Le Livre sur la Place festival in Nancy draws record crowds

The 48th edition of the literary festival ‘Le Livre sur la Place’ in Nancy, France, drew a record 135,000 visitors between September 11 and 13. The event featured 544 authors and 207 publishing houses, with 34,000 attendees participating in author meetings.

This high attendance contrasts with the broader economic challenges facing the French book sector, which has recently seen declining sales and difficulties for various bookstores. The festival’s editorial direction focused on dialogue, led by co-presidents Israeli historian Élie Barnavi and Palestinian intellectual Elias Sanbar, who promoted literature as a space for discussion rather than confrontation.