French authors to pay fines of bookshops open despite virus closure
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Saturday, October 5, 2024


French authors to pay fines of bookshops open despite virus closure
Writers and publishers gather on a Seine river boat as they take part in the act II of the movement for the reopening of booksellers in Paris, on November 12, 2020, a week after the measures of a new coronavirus lockdown taken to curb the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak caused by the novel coronavirus. Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP.



PARIS (AFP).- One of France's best-known authors, Alexandre Jardin, vowed Sunday that writers would bail out rebel bookshop owners fined for opening in defiance of a nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

Literature lovers are fuming over the government's shutting of bookstores, along with all other outlets selling "non-essential" goods or services, for the second time this year

A handful of bookshops have openly flouted the shutdown, backed by writers, literary critics and tens of thousands of bookworms who argue that books are essential to well-being.

Jardin, who penned bestselling romance novels "Le Zebre" and "Fanfan", has rallied in their defence.

He said Sunday that authors would pay the fines incurred by rogue booksellers.

Jardin told Europe 1 radio that Didier van Cauwelaert, winner of the Prix Goncourt, France's top literary prize for his 1994 novel "Un Aller Simple", had offered to cover any penalty imposed on a bookshop in the city of Cannes, leading the revolt.

"The next bookshop will be me, and the next somebody else," he said, declaring that "no state has the moral right to close bookshops".

'Freedom of speech'
France has some of the highest book readership figures in the world, studies show, and one of the largest networks of independent bookstores.




While hairdressers, toy stores, perfumeries, florists, cinemas and malls have all been shut since October 30, the plight of bookshops has sparked the greatest public indignation.

In an open letter to President Emmanuel Macron, van Cauwelaert warned that restricting access to culture posed a threat to France's "precious freedom of speech".

Jardin pointed out that other European countries, such as Belgium, had allowed bookshops to remain open.

The head of Grasset publishing house, Olivier Nora, complained booksellers were missing out on crucial November-December sales accounting for 25 percent of annual revenues.

The French government has so far resisted pressure to ease a month-long partial lockdown imposed to curb a second wave of Covid-19 infections.

Prime Minister Jean Castex on Thursday did however raise the possibility that some shops might be allowed to reopen in December if current trends showing a decline in new infections continue.

The virus has killed over 44,000 people in France.

On Saturday, Macron tweeted that "the next few days will be decisive" and urged people to continue taking precautions.


© Agence France-Presse










Today's News

November 16, 2020

25 Women.... 20th Century....

Louis K. Meisel Gallery now representing Davis Cone and Rod E. Penner

Asia Week New York 'LIVE' zooms-in on Tales of Conservation, Science, and Asian Art

Nahmad Contemporary opens first exhibition dedicated to Richard Prince's brazen, large-scale Cartoon Joke paintings

Alexander Gray Associates opens an exhibition of work by Harmony Hammond

Exhibition features an assembly of subtle and elegant works from the Tia Collection

Inside the mystery of a country moonshine bunker

Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian opens National Native American Veterans Memorial

The nude pictures that won't go away

PBS stations in Miami to air documentary of artist Rafael Soriano

A pledge to help artists becomes a lucrative lifeline

DC Moore Gallery opens an exhibition of new mesh paintings created since August by Alexi Worth

The 'detective work' behind a war novel

Inspiration from south of the border moves center stage in Houston

A pianist loses himself in a musical 'labyrinth'

Why do pianists know so little about pianos?

David Easton, architect for an American gentry, dies at 83

Rosanna Carteri, soprano who retired at her peak, dies at 89

French authors to pay fines of bookshops open despite virus closure

Egypt's Siwa fortress renovation boosts hopes for ecotourism

Lyman Allyn Art Museum features the works of creative photographer and tinkerer Todd McLellan

Rare items in upcoming Artifacts of Hollywood and Music auction

Ketterer Kunst announces online-only auction with rare original prints

Jose Dávila reimagines Central Wharf Park to bring community together in time of pandemic isolation




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys
Holistic Dentist
Abogado de accidentes

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful