Le Livre de Poche (literally "The Pocket Book") is the name of a collection of publications which first appeared on 9 February 1953 under the leadership of and published by the, a subsidiary of Hachette. In terms of its influence on the mainstream book market, it shares a similar popularity in France as publishers like Penguin and Signet do in English-speaking territories.

History

Admittedly, books of a similar format, fitting in a pocket, already existed. Since 1905, Editions Jules Tallandier marketed themselves under the name Livre de poche, popular novels at low cost. But the successful reception of Le Livre de Poche was due to the combination of the new idea of consumerism with the era and the popular demand for a cheap book, presented in covers recalling cinema posters, but containing quality writing. Henri Filipacchi supposedly had the idea after seeing an American soldier tearing up a book in order to fit it into the pockets of his uniform. Filipacchi succeeded in convincing his editor friends Albin Michel, Calmann-Lévy, Grasset and Gallimard to join his project and become the "founding fathers" of Le Livre de Poche. Thus Kœnigsmark, by Pierre Benoit, was the first title released, in 1953. Every fortnight a new title is released. It soon became a fait de société. From 8 million copies in 1957-1958, sales climbed to 28 million in 1969. This success inspired competitors: J'ai lu created by Flammarion in 1958, Presses Pocket created by the Presses de la Cité and Folio created by Gallimard in 1972 after its withdrawal from the Librairie Générale Française. But, with nearly a billion volumes distributed since its creation and more than 18 million copies sold in 2002, it remains the premier widely distributed French paperback collection.

Some facts

The capital of La Librairie générale française, a limited company, is owned 80% by Hachette-Livre and, up to 20%, by les Éditions Albin Michel.

The original collection

Le 9 février 1953 est la date du lancement du Livre de Poche n°1 : Kœnigsmark de Pierre Benoit, n°2 : Les Clés du Royaume de A.J. Cronin et n°3 : Vol de nuit d'Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Dans les 2 000 premiers numéros, on retrouve la majorité des classiques français. Du n°1 au n°1800 (1967), les couvertures, souvent signées Jean-Claude Forest, sont du style « affiche peinte » caractéristique. Ensuite elles se modernisent. Pierre Faucheux a a donné également des couvertures célèbres notamment pour Paroles de Jacques Prévert. Les n° sont actuellement aux alentours de 18000, mais il y a eu des trous. L'ouvrage le plus vendu en Livre de poche : Le Grand Meaulnes d'Alain-Fournier, suivi de Vipère au Poing d'Hervé Bazin (plus de 4 millions d'exemplaires chacun). L'auteur le plus vendu : Agatha Christie (plus de 40 millions de volumes), suivie d'Émile Zola (22 millions).

Les autres collections

Anecdotes

Lien externes

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