HarperCollins, one of the big five publishers dominating the Anglo-Saxon market on both sides of the Atlantic, had a “historic” final quarter of 2020. Then it posted a 45% jump in profits and a 19% increase in revenue in the quarter ending March 31 compared with the year-earlier period. CEO Charlie Redmayne points to profitable backlist sales: Favorite fantasy writers like JRR Tolkien and George RR Martin provided escapist thrills, while Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries provided isolation comfort food.
Theatres went dark in London’s West End last year, while galleries closed and concert halls stood silent. But there was one creative industry that flourished during the lockdown: the reading and publishing of books.
Many in the industry, as well as parents and educators, are now hoping the habit will stick around post-Covid. My guess is it just might.
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