LES CONTREBANDIERS EDITEURS

What LES CONTREBANDIERS EDITEURS does

Les Contrebandiers Éditeurs was an independent French literary publishing house founded in 1975 by Antoine de Kerversau and headquartered in Paris. The house specialized in subversive, counter-cultural fiction across genres — literary novels, crime/polar fiction, poetry, and graphic novel adaptations — with a tightly curated editorial output of roughly nine publications per year. Notable authors associated with the catalog included Michel Houellebecq (whose novel 'Plateforme' was adapted as a graphic novel with illustrator Alain Dual), Nina Berberova, Yasmina Khadra, and Jean-Bernard Pouy (creator of the Le Poulpe series). Multiple titles won literary prizes including the Prix Polar 2004 du festival de Cognac, Prix de Gâtine 2011, Prix Jean Dorst 2011, and Printemps des Lecteurs 2012.

The business model was straightforward unit-pricing book sales: individual titles were priced between €3 and €25 (most €12-€20) and sold through the publisher's own website, the online retailer lalibrairie.com, and to physical bookstores via wholesale distributor La Générale du Livre (lageneraledulivre.com). There is no recurring subscription or digital licensing component; revenue was one-time per purchase. The publisher also produced the 'Podcast des Contrebandiers' author interview series and the Revue TECKEL literary review.

The company operates no proprietary technology platform and uses no AI. Headcount is approximately 5 employees. Critically, founder Antoine de Kerversau concluded his direction of the house in 2017 and established a fourth publishing venture, Et le bruit de ses talons Éditeurs; the Les Contrebandiers website carries a 2017 copyright, the publisher no longer accepts manuscripts, and operating status is recorded as closed with significantly reduced or ceased editorial activity. The website and Facebook page remain accessible but no new publications or active editorial operations are evident.

Name

LES CONTREBANDIERS EDITEURS

Legal name

Les Contrebandiers Editeurs

Website

https://lescontrebandiersediteurs.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Les Contrebandiers Éditeurs was a small, independent French literary publishing house founded in 1975 in Paris, publishing roughly nine curated novels, graphic novels, and poetry titles per year for the general French reading public; the house has been non-operational since founder Antoine de Kerversau's departure in 2017.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Book sales (print publications): Revenue is generated through the sale of published books (novels, graphic novels, poetry, youth literature) to individual readers and booksellers. Books are priced individually (ranging from approximately €3 to €25 per title), representing one-time purchase transactions rather than recurring subscription models.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LES CONTREBANDIERS EDITEURS is a French independent publishing house founded in 1975, based in Paris (3 rue Récamier). The company publishes literary fiction (littérature), graphic novels (bande dessinée), and poetry collections in French, releasing approximately 9 new publications per year under a curated catalogue featuring prestigious authors such as Jacques Rouché, Jude Stéfan, Guy de Maupassant, and Béatrice Hammer.

Product overview

Les Contrebandiers Éditeurs is a French independent publishing house that produces literary fiction, graphic novels, and poetry. The company's core product is its book catalogue, which includes novels from authors such as Michel Houellebecq (including the graphic novel 'Plateforme'), Bénédicte Heim, Laurent Maillard, Vanessa Fuks, and Victoria Horton. The publisher also offers the Collection ADK featuring graphic novels, the Revue TECKEL literary review, and podcasts featuring author interviews. The catalogue encompasses crime/polar fiction, literary fiction, poetry, and graphic novel adaptations, with approximately nine publications per year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Literary fiction catalogue (Littérature)
• Graphic novel catalogue (Bande dessinée)
• Poetry collections (Poésie)
• Le Comptoir des Contrebandiers (podcast)

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• La Générale du Livre (lageneraledulivre.com)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Générale du Livre serves as the designated wholesale/distribution partner for booksellers, enabling Les Contrebandiers Éditeurs to reach physical and independent bookstore retailers across France.
• lalibrairie.comcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributorlalibrairie.com is the designated online retail partner for individual consumers to purchase the publisher's books directly.
• Michel HouellebecqflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally renowned author Michel Houellebecq co-developed the graphic novel adaptation of his novel 'Plateforme' with Les Contrebandiers Éditeurs, working directly with illustrator Alain Dual under the publisher's imprint. This flagship collaboration underscores the publisher's capacity to attract major literary names.
• PHPNET FRANCEminorOthersPHPNET FRANCE provides web hosting services for the publisher's website (www.lescontrebandiersediteurs.fr), hosted at 97-97 bis rue Général Mangin, 38100 Grenoble.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Broad incumbents

• Éditions Gallimard: One of France's largest and most prestigious literary publishers, encompassing Gallimard, folio, and numerous imprints. Overlaps with Les Contrebandiers in French literary fiction but at vastly different scale, with Houellebecq's primary publisher historically.
• Actes Sud: Major French independent literary publisher headquartered in Arles, with broader catalog and significantly larger scale. Overlaps with Les Contrebandiers in literary fiction and translated literature but operates at much greater scope and reach.

Direct peers

• Éditions Le Tripode: Small French independent literary publisher producing literary fiction and translations. Operates at a comparable micro-scale with similar curated catalog philosophy to Les Contrebandiers Éditeurs.
• Éditions Zulma: Small French independent publisher specializing in translated literary fiction from around the world. Comparable to Les Contrebandiers in independent positioning and curated catalog approach.
• Éditions Finitude: Small French independent publisher focusing on literary fiction and translations. Closely comparable to Les Contrebandiers in size, genre mix, and independent editorial positioning.
• Éditions P.O.L: Paris-based French independent literary publisher founded in 1983, known for literary fiction and experimental/contemporary voices. Comparable to Les Contrebandiers in its championing of distinctive literary voices, though at larger scale.
• Éditions La Manufacture de Livres: Small French independent publisher producing literary fiction, poetry, and essays. Directly comparable to Les Contrebandiers in size, genre mix, and curated independent editorial approach.
• Éditions Verdier: Small French independent literary publisher based in Lagrasse, known for literary fiction, essays, and translations. Highly comparable to Les Contrebandiers in scale, editorial ethos, and positioning within the French independent literary scene.
• Le Castor Astral: Bordeaux-based French independent literary publisher producing literary fiction, poetry, and essays at micro scale. Operates with comparable editorial philosophy and headcount range to Les Contrebandiers Éditeurs.
• Éditions Quidam Éditeur: Small French independent literary publisher focused on contemporary literary fiction and translations. Comparable in scale and editorial positioning to Les Contrebandiers Éditeurs within the French independent literary scene.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LesContrebandiersEditeurs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-contrebandiers-editeurs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LES CONTREBANDIERS EDITEURS