(Quebec) The controversy caused by the scuffle on social networks between François Legault and the author Kevin Lambert has boosted the sale of his latest book That our joy remains.
According to figures from the Société de gestion de la Banque de Titres de Langue Française (BTLF) provided to La Presse Canadienne, Kevin Lambert sold almost twice as many copies of his book in the eight days following the publication of François Legault in comparison with the thirty days preceding it.
“For a more literary book, that’s fine. It’s still substantial,” says BTLF Management Company Operations and Development Support Officer Donald Alexandre.
“It’s exceptional to be honest. […] The impact is definitely there, ”confirms, for his part, the general manager of the Association des libraires du Québec, Alexandre Blanchette.
Two weeks ago, Prime Minister François Legault gave his appreciation of the book “Let our joy remain”.
“Nuanced critique of the Quebec bourgeoisie. Pressure groups and journalists are looking for scapegoats for the housing crisis in Montreal. The difficulty of debates in our society, ”wrote Mr. Legault in addition to praising Kevin Lambert.
But the main interested party did not appreciate this interpretation of his work and sharply criticized the Prime Minister under his publication.
“Mr. Legault, in the midst of a housing crisis, while your government is working to undermine the last ramparts that protect us from extreme gentrification in Montreal, putting my book forward is crummy,” he wrote then.
Kevin Lambert says today that the purpose of his answer was not to sell books. “It was not a marketing operation on my part,” he said in an interview with La Presse Canadienne.
The author from Saguenay says he received threats, aggressive comments and derogatory messages after having virtually clashed with the Prime Minister.
Despite everything, he maintains the line and does not change his speech. “It’s a dangerous idea to say, ‘It gives good visibility, so we’ll just say thank you and shut up.’ If all artists thought like that, there would be no engaged artists,” he says.
Professor at Laval University and specialist in Quebec literary history Jonathan Livernois says that this controversy shows the tension that exists when politics intertwines with literature.
“We deny politics the right to talk about literature, but at the same time, globally, there is not a writer who will not be happy to see his book mentioned by the Prime Minister, even if in fact we are disagree with him,” he argues.
François Legault regularly publishes reviews of books he has read on his social networks.
” I like to read. I comment on books. I try to help Quebec authors. Now, if there are some who don’t like it, it’s their choice, “said the Prime Minister in a press briefing a few days after its publication.
Mr. Livernois sees this as an initiative that corresponds to the Prime Minister’s ideology. “For Kevin Lambert’s book, it’s as if it responded to a need of his economic and cultural nationalism and his desire to promote Quebec authors,” he says.
Even without controversy, Mr. Legault’s literary choices obviously have an effect on book sales. Crossing the Night by Marie Laberge also saw a jump in sales after François Legault spoke about it in a press briefing during the pandemic. The author had also said she was happy to be read by the Prime Minister.