“Who sucks the most?”: Le Figaro’s criticism of Marc Levy and Guillaume Musso creates controversy

But the criticism struck authors and literary publishers, the novelists being both appreciated by French readers. In 2022, Guillaume Musso was the best-selling author in France (1.383 million copies in total) and Marc Levy the ninth (630,000 copies).

”Be proud of what you like to read, without prejudice or respect for those who claim to impose hierarchies”, tweeted Michèle Benbunan, the boss of Editis, parent company of Robert Laffont editions, with which Marc Levy is published.

“As for us, we are happy and proud to house within Hachette Livre an author of the caliber of Guillaume Musso, capable of speaking to French men and women of all ages and of all origins”, retorted on Linkedin the deputy general manager of Hachette Livre, Fabrice Bakhouche.

Other writers have also proclaimed their support for the two authors on social networks. “The worst thing is your article and its condescension”, splits the novelist Tatiana de Rosnay.

”Without this popular literature, publishing houses could not publish more confidential authors. The snobbery of this environment disgusts me”, reacted sharply again the doctor and author Baptiste Beaulieu.

A criticism to which Guillaume Musso himself reacted: “In any case, our books are less pathetic than your articles.“, he commented in response to Figaro.

For his part, literary critic Juan Asensio, although not a fan of bestsellers, was skeptical about the article.