International Report: Catching Up With the European Book Market

摘要

On the face of it, doom and gloom are the order of the day for Europe's COVID-hit book markets and yet, a recent report provides some straws for bibliophiles to clutch at. "One Year After: Consequences of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Book Market-An Overview of 2020," from the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) paints a mixed picture. Sabine Verheyen, chairwoman of the European Parliament's culture and education committee, states in the foreword, "The culture and creative sector in the [European Union]... are being decimated by the crisis. Among them, the book sector had suffered severely and remains affected-including on how to deal with the long-term consequences. The sector is facing today the combination of uncertainty whether fairs and other literary events can be planned and whether bookshops can remain open together with a considerable reduction or postponement of titles, including translations."