Optimism at British book fair

British booksellers are facing fierce competition and flaccid sales, leading many retailers to offer deep discounts, squeezing publishers’ profits and authors’ royalties. But in the crowded aisles and busy bars at this year’s London Book Fair, publishers, agents and booksellers were optimistic.

“I think the trade will be fine over the next few months, not least because in times like these, people want to go out and buy a good book,” said Ian Chapman, managing director of Simon & Schuster U.K.

Organizers said the fair -- a three-day marketplace that ended Tuesday -- was the biggest in the event’s 33-year-history, with 1,600 exhibitors and more than 10,000 visitors making deals for hundreds of titles. More than one-third of the exhibitors and visitors were from overseas, with the United States among the largest foreign contingents.

From Associated Press