More than 300 authors and figures in the publishing world, led by Leïla Slimani, Virginie Despentes and Emmanuel Carrère, have called for the creation of a "conscience clause" in their sector, in an opinion piece published in La Tribune Dimanche (source in French), after 170 authors announced earlier this week that they were leaving Grasset, not wanting to drift with their publishing house following the ousting of Olivier Nora.
The writers shook up the usually hushed world of French publishing by refusing to publish new works at Grasset following the departure of its managing director, a move they blame on Bolloré. In an open letter following their exodus, they denounced "an unacceptable attack on the editorial independence" of the publishing house founded in 1907.
