Bookstore charity identifies big donor as Amazon

No country’s bookstores have been immune to the financial pressures of the coronavirus outbreak.

So Britain’s shops weren’t alone in launching a crowdfunding campaign last month to help support struggling stores.

The Book Trade Charity initially sought £10,000 (about $12,300); the coffers had reached £130,000 (about $160,300), thanks to a large donation from Penguin Random House, before another — but anonymous — donor stepped in.

That donor, which contributed £250,000 (about $309,000), was finally unveiled yesterday to have been … Amazon.

The Bookseller reports that the charity’s CEO decided to identify Amazon in response to intense public speculation.

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