Calmann-Lévy
Calmann-Lévy is a French literary publishing house founded in 1836 and operating as part of the Hachette Livre group. It publishes French and international literature across imprints including Kero, Orbit, and Calmann-Lévy Noir, serving French-speaking readers and foreign publishers through translation rights licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1836
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Calmann-Lévy does
Calmann-Lévy is a French literary publishing house founded in 1836, making it one of France's oldest continuously operating publishing imprints. The company operates as a Société Anonyme (RCS Paris B 572 082 279) headquartered at 21 rue du Montparnasse, Paris, and functions as a subsidiary within the Hachette Livre group. Its catalog spans nearly 2,000 authors and translators ranging from 19th-century literary greats (Dumas, Baudelaire, Flaubert, Hugo, Sand) to contemporary bestsellers such as Guillaume Musso, Pierre Lemaitre, and international authors including Elizabeth Gilbert and Howard Jacobson. The publisher maintains a multi-imprint strategy: the core Calmann-Lévy imprint for general literature, Kero for contemporary fiction, Orbit for science fiction and fantasy, and Calmann-Lévy Noir for crime and thrillers.
Revenue is generated through three primary streams: physical book sales distributed via the Hachette Livre wholesale network and third-party online retailers (including Amazon redirect affiliates), digital book sales through the Liseuse Hachette e-reader platform, and foreign rights licensing managed by a dedicated rights team that translates editorial content into international publishing deals. Books are priced between €7.49 and €27.20 depending on format and title tier. Marketing channels include the calmann-levy.fr website, email newsletters, social media, the 'La Salle de lecture' podcast, and participation in literary events and book fairs across France. The company distributes an active frontlist with multiple new releases per month scheduled through mid-2026.
The current leadership team is led by Philippe Robinet as Président Directeur Général (CEO), with Patricia Roussel heading the Rights team. The company has continued to earn literary recognition including the Prix Renaudot 2023 (Ann Scott) and the Prix Polar + 2026 (Jérôme Loubry). Operating as part of the Hachette Livre group provides access to one of France's largest book distribution networks and shared digital infrastructure, while Calmann-Lévy retains editorial autonomy for its imprints and author relationships.
Calmann-Lévy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Calmann-Lévy
- Legal name
- Calmann-Lévy Société anonyme
- Website
- https://calmann-levy.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1836
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Calmann-Lévy is a French literary publishing house founded in 1836 and operating as part of the Hachette Livre group. It publishes French and international literature across imprints including Kero, Orbit, and Calmann-Lévy Noir, serving French-speaking readers and foreign publishers through translation rights licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Calmann-Lévy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Literary & Classics Publishing (MPAJAAAC)
Keywords
Where Calmann-Lévy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Calmann-Lévy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Physical Book Sales: Revenue from sale of printed books through online retail partners and direct website redirections. Books are available in major format (grand format) and paperback versions.
- Digital/E-book Sales: Revenue from sale of digital versions of books through the Liseuse Hachette e-reader platform, available in multiple languages.
- Foreign Rights Licensing: International revenue through licensing translation rights to foreign publishers. Rights team manages permissions and international cessions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | New Release Bestsellers |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Literary Fiction |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Foreign Literature |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Crime/Thriller Novels |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Calmann-Lévy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Calmann-Lévy is a traditional French book publishing house that acquires, edits, publishes, and distributes literary works in both physical and digital formats. The publisher operates across multiple imprints covering general literature, contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, and crime/thriller genres, while also licensing foreign translation rights to international publishers. Sales occur primarily through third-party online retail partners via website redirection, supported by Hachette Livre group distribution.
Product overview
Calmann-Lévy is a traditional book publishing house founded in 1836, operating as part of the Hachette Livre group. The company publishes a diverse portfolio of literary works through multiple imprints: the core Calmann-Lévy imprint for general literature; Kero for contemporary fiction; Orbit for science fiction and fantasy; and Calmann-Lévy Noir for crime and thriller genres. Beyond print publishing, Calmann-Lévy offers digital books through the Liseuse Hachette platform, and has developed La Salle de lecture, an original podcast series featuring author interviews about the creative writing process. The publisher manages a catalog of approximately 2,000 authors and translators, ranging from French contemporaries like Guillaume Musso and Pierre Lemaitre to international authors including Elizabeth Gilbert and Howard Jacobson.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kero: A sub-brand/imprint of Calmann-Lévy publishing fiction titles including the Signé Sixtine series and Black Mirror [Inside].
Products and services
- Calmann-Lévy (main imprint publishing) Traditional book publishing imprint founded in 1836, publishing French and foreign literature, crime/thrillers, essays, and illustrated works for adult readers. The flagship imprint houses general literary titles from contemporary bestsellers like Guillaume Musso and Pierre Lemaitre to classic French authors.
- Orbit (science fiction and fantasy imprint) A science fiction and fantasy imprint under Calmann-Lévy publishing fantasy series, time travel novels, and dystopian fiction for adult readers of speculative genres.
- Calmann-Lévy Noir (crime and thriller imprint) A crime and thriller collection imprint of Calmann-Lévy featuring police procedurals, psychological thrillers, and noir fiction from established and emerging authors, targeted at readers of the crime genre.
- Foreign Rights Licensing Licensing of translation rights for Calmann-Lévvy's catalog of French-authored titles to international publishers for publication in foreign-language markets, managed by a dedicated rights team led by Rights Director Patricia Roussel.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 2,000 authors published including major literary prize winners
Companies that use Calmann-Lévy
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Calmann-Lévy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Calmann-Lévy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Hachette LivrecoreParent company and distribution partner. Calmann-Lévy is part of the Hachette Livre group, providing distribution infrastructure and group resources. The partnership includes shared digital reading platform (Liseuse Hachette) and integrated publishing services.
- Online Retail PartnerscoreThird-party online bookstores that sell Calmann-Lévy books through affiliate redirections from calmann-levy.fr. Partners include major e-commerce platforms for book sales.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Calmann-Lévy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gallimard: France's most prestigious literary publisher, founded 1911. Publishes French and translated literature across trade and classics, directly comparable to Calmann-Lévy's literary publishing focus and French market positioning.
- Grasset: French literary publisher also part of Hachette Livre group. Comparable in size, genre mix (literary fiction, essays), and sister-imprint relationship within Hachette, making it the closest structural peer to Calmann-Lévy.
- Albin Michel: One of France's largest independent literary publishers, publishing French and foreign literature, crime fiction, and essays. Directly comparable in catalog scope, French market focus, and bestseller-driven model.
- Flammarion: Major French literary publisher (part of Madrigall/Cie des Arts group). Comparable portfolio of literary fiction, illustrated books, and reference works with similar French-market positioning.
- Fayard: French literary and non-fiction publisher, also a Hachette Livre sister imprint. Comparable in publishing scope, particularly essays, biographies, and current affairs, with shared Hachette distribution.
- Le Seuil: French general literature and non-fiction publisher. Comparable in publishing literary fiction, essays, and translated works across a similar French-market, mid-to-highbrow positioning.
- Actes Sud: Independent French literary publisher known for literary fiction and translated world literature. Comparable in editorial focus on quality literature and foreign rights activity.
- Mercure de France: French literary publisher with a focus on literary fiction and essays. Comparable in niche literary positioning and similar midlist-driven business model to Calmann-Lévy.
Broad incumbents
- Penguin Random House: World's largest trade book publisher, parent of multiple literary imprints. Comparable in operating trade book publishing across literary, crime, sci-fi, and translated fiction categories, though at vastly greater scale.
- HarperCollins: Global trade book publisher with strong literary and translated fiction portfolios. Comparable in operating literary publishing across multiple imprints and global rights licensing, though at corporate scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Calmann-Lévy social profiles
Digital presenceCalmann-Lévy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Calmann-Lévy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Calmann-Lévy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Calmann-Lévy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Calmann-Lévy
What does Calmann-Lévy do?
Calmann-Lévy is a traditional French book publishing house that acquires, edits, publishes, and distributes literary works in both physical and digital formats. The publisher operates across multiple imprints covering general literature, contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, and crime/thriller genres, while also licensing foreign translation rights to international publishers. Sales occur primarily through third-party online retail partners via website redirection, supported by Hachette Livre group distribution.
Is Calmann-Lévy a public or private company?
Calmann-Lévy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Calmann-Lévy founded?
Calmann-Lévy was founded in 1836. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Calmann-Lévy based?
Calmann-Lévy is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Calmann-Lévy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Physical Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are digital/E-book Sales and foreign Rights Licensing.
Who are Calmann-Lévy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gallimard, Grasset, Albin Michel, Flammarion, Fayard, Le Seuil, Actes Sud and Mercure de France. Broad incumbents are Penguin Random House and HarperCollins.
Does Calmann-Lévy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Calmann-Lévy.
What industry is Calmann-Lévy in?
Calmann-Lévy's product category is Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAC, Literary & Classics Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.