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LIBRE ÉDITION
Libre Edition, “No mass publication but irresistible books”
This young publishing company (whose name literally means “freedom in publishing”) opened its doors two years ago in Pondicherry, South East of India. The team came together through a shared conviction that “No matter what some might say, mankind is not doomed… It is just in desperate need of positive ideas. But they are so difficult to find in the masses of shallow and barely written “airport novels” that are our era’s daily fodder! So we wanted to do something about that.” Sophie Smith, Chief Editor at LIBRE EDITION, explains the company’s viewpoint on the current situation of the literary market: “When it comes to the decision making process, too many professionals now have the bad habit of considering the “money” factor before everything else. But we’re talking about Art here! You cannot reasonably concentrate on that goal? It would be equally cynical and absurd because no real artist, not one not ever, wanted – or even could – create for the sake of money. But unfortunately, and for a while now, a “business” point of view has infected Culture, placing the financial interests of a handful of investors before the humanitarian goal of Art, choosing what will “sell” over what will “enlighten”. True Art is there to suggest, to help, to give back hope, to create an alternative future – not just to pass the time when you don’t know what to do. That’s what television is for, not literature.”
“As you can tell we are not afraid of words at LIBRE EDITION. Here we all work with the common goal of returning novels and short stories to their former glory,” Sophie Smith says. “We’re not aiming at mass publication but indeed at “irresistible” publications – even if that means very few. Our philosophy is that one magical writer is needed so much more than a hundred mediocre ones!” And indeed they are right to harbour such beliefs since they have found their first jewel in the name of Frédéric Mari, a writer with an enchanted pen and an uncommon imagination who more than fits the criteria. “Frédéric Mari is a Frenchman who has chosen to live in India for the past 20 years – both because of personal taste and a rare sense of adventure. And you can feel this wonderful and exciting country in his deep, fascinating tales.”
Sophie Smith tells us how she first met Frédéric Mari, through one of his novels: “I had never read such a beautiful novel before, that took me so many places and with such a pleasing style. For the first time in my life I felt the need to start the book all over again because I couldn’t stand the empty feeling once I finished it! I still can’t believe it.” So now, true to its goal, LIBRE EDITION will do anything in its power to put Frédéric Mari’s books before as many eyes as possible. “I really want everyone to have the chance to feel what I felt. It has been too long now since France hasn’t born such a Writer, and I will not wait until he’s dead to let people know that.”
To date, and thanks to word of mouth alone, his books are a huge hit amongst the French community in India and more than 3000 readers share Sophie Smith’s point of view. And it doesn’t stop there. With the same goal of making Frédéric Mari’s books available to the largest possible audience, LIBRE EDITION and its flagship author have decided to sell their books online, but also to allow readers to download the publications… for free! “We are aware that more and more people choose to download works of art these days,” Sophie Smith says. “They don’t necessarily need or want to hold the physical object itself. Thus we prove our understanding of this modern-day reality, and we also prove our point that for nothing in the world – and especially not for a few coins – we want to put an obstacle between a reader and his beautiful, honourable urge towards Culture. There is no choice to be made between money and Culture: free access is our only answer. It is our gift to the people who don’t want to, or cannot afford to do it in any other way.
Our goal is a simple one, and I’ll repeat it again: we want as many people as possible to read author Frédéric Mari, and through his books get brighter ideas.”
