Books, Brexit, and Brinksmanship

The countdown to London Book Fair – and Brexit – is approaching an end.

However, whenever, and if ever – those are questions confronting MPs in Westminster as the United Kingdom moves ever closer to March 29, 2019, the scheduled date for “Brexit” when the country will exit from membership in the European Union.

Under the shadow of Brexit brinksmanship, the London Book Fair is set to open next week, welcoming publishers from around the world back to Olympia Hall. Editors and executives alike have one word to describe their sentiments, says Publishers Weekly senior writer Andrew Albanese – Anxious.

“A hard Brexit (leaving the EU without any arrangements) would mean a massive reduction in the ability of British publishers to recruit talent, and could lead to severe short-term market challenges,” he tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “Brexit could seriously impair the U.K. publishing industry and possibly incentivize expansion into continental Europe.”

Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.