Algeria Gate: Boualem Sansal’s latest book, La Légende, published by Grasset on June 2, has reportedly sold only 48,000 copies, despite Hachette Livre granting the author an exceptional €1 million advance and investing heavily in its promotion.

According to Le Monde, NielsenIQ BookData recorded 48,000 sales as of August 20, compared with an initial print run of 150,000 copies. The book initially performed strongly, selling nearly 17,000 copies in its first week and entering France’s top five bestsellers, but it quickly dropped out of the rankings.
The 252-page book, priced at €22, recounts Sansal’s year in an Algerian prison over accusations of undermining national unity. It was published by Grasset, part of Hachette, the French publishing giant owned by billionaire Vincent Bolloré.
Le Monde contrasted Sansal’s performance with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s Le Journal d’un prisonnier, published by another Hachette imprint, Fayard. Sarkozy’s book sold 90,000 copies in its first week alone.

Hachette reportedly signed Sansal away from Gallimard, which had published his works since 1999. Gallimard and French publishing circles had campaigned for his release before Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune granted him a presidential pardon on November 12, 2025.
Despite the modest sales, Hachette reportedly provided extensive promotional support, including full-page newspaper advertisements, widespread appearances on Bolloré-owned media outlets, and large-scale orders ensuring prominent placement in Relay stores across major train stations and airports.
The figures have therefore raised questions about the €1 million advance and the scale of the promotional campaign, particularly given the book’s relatively weak commercial performance.



