The 81-year-old Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal is turning an important page in his publishing career. After more than a quarter of a century of collaboration with Gallimard, the author will publish his next works with Grasset, a publishing house belonging to the Hachette Livre group.
This decision marks the end of an editorial relationship that began in the late 1990s. Boualem Sansal joined Gallimard upon the publication of his first novel, The Oath of the Barbarians, published in 1999. For nearly twenty-seven years, the writer remained associated with this publishing house, which published all of his major works and helped to establish his reputation in the French-speaking literary scene.
The announcement of this change of publisher surprised a large part of the literary world. Boualem Sansal was indeed strongly identified with Gallimard, one of the most prestigious publishing houses in France.
A transfer to Grasset within the Hachette group
Boualem Sansal's new publisher will be Grasset, a subsidiary of the Hachette Livre group. This group is now part of the Vivendi group, controlled by businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The writer's arrival was mentioned during the celebrations organized for Hachette Livre's bicentenary. On this occasion, Arnaud Lagardère confirmed that Boualem Sansal had chosen to join Grasset. The executive summarized this decision by stating: "It was his choice. He wanted to change his professional life."
A decision after a particularly difficult year
Boualem Sansal's departure from Gallimard comes just a few months after a particularly trying personal period. The writer was arrested in November 2024 upon his arrival in Algiers, before being sentenced in March 2025 to five years in prison on charges related to an attack on "national unity" and to statements deemed contrary to the security of the Algerian state.
This conviction sparked numerous international reactions. Several political leaders and figures from the cultural world called for his release, including the French president. Emmanuel Macron.
After approximately a year in detention, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune finally granted him a presidential pardon on November 12, 2025, on humanitarian grounds. Following this decision, the writer was able to leave Algeria to receive medical treatment in Europe.
In French literary circles, this development is already generating considerable discussion. During Boualem Sansal's imprisonment, several figures in the book world mobilized to support calls for his release, including his long-time publisher, Gallimard.
A prominent figure in contemporary Francophone literature
Born in Algeria in 1949, Boualem Sansal has established himself over the years as one of the leading voices in contemporary Francophone literature. His novels regularly address political issues, the transformations of the Arab world, and the challenges related to Islamism.
Boualem Sansal's books have been banned in Algeria for several years but are widely distributed and discussed in France and other French-speaking countries. The writer was also elected to the French Academy in January 2026, a few months after his release.
