Posted on September 13, 2018 at 9:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

A book longlisted for a prestigious literary prize has stirred up considerable controversy in France.

Author Marco Koskas self-published his novel Bande de Français, and it’s only available on Amazon.

And according to France24, the vast majority of French bookstores are unwilling to order books off Amazon, which they see as a threat.

France has a tradition of promoting home-grown art and local purveyors of it, whether it’s literature or cinema, through subsidies and quotas.

Additionally, as France24 reminds us, the country passed a law, aimed at Amazon, “that prevents online platforms from providing free delivery on top of the 5% discount on books” in 2013.

So a fair number in the French culture scene see the Prix Renaudot panel’s selection of an Amazon-only book as a slap in the face.

Read their reaction and the prize jury’s response on France24 (yes, in English, though there’s a link back to the French original if you prefer).

Categories: Today in Books

Tagged As: Amazon, Bookstore

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