Sally Rooney, the acclaimed author of Normal People, has announced that her novels will no longer be available to booksellers in the UK due to her support for Palestine Action. This decision comes after the Irish novelist stated her intention to continue using her royalties to support the group, which has been designated as a proscribed terrorist organization in the UK.
Context
In a statement to BBC News, Rooney expressed that further publication of her work could lead to a "serious criminal offence." Consequently, she has reached an agreement with her publisher, Faber, to halt the supply of her books in the UK.
“"I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences," Rooney stated.
Ebook editions of her works have already been removed from sale in the UK, although many bookstores still have physical copies available. Waterstones confirmed to the BBC that Faber had indicated there were no restrictions on booksellers keeping their current stock on the shelves.
Developments
Rooney has sold over six million books worldwide, with approximately 2.3 million sold in the UK, according to NielsenIQ BookData. Her novel Normal People, released in 2018, was adapted into a successful TV series in 2020, which significantly boosted the careers of actors Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Other notable works by Rooney include Intermezzo, Conversations With Friends, and Beautiful World, Where Are You.
