British Book Sales: Nonfiction Slumps, Fiction Sells

Posted on November 6, 2009

The Bookseller reports that sales of nonfiction in Britain are slumping while sales of fiction are up 90%. Sale of the top ten nonfiction titles fell 52%. Everyone in England has been in more of a fiction mood lately.

Figures for the most recent week to 31st October showed non-fiction continuing to underperform. Only Guinness World Records and Delia Smith's Delia's Happy Christmas (Ebury) sold more than 10,000 copies last week. Last year 10 hardback non-fiction titles passed this threshold during the same period.
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Cookery titles have in the past been a Christmas staple, with celebrity chefs whipping up high sales. However, sales of Jamie's America (Michael Joseph) have been well behind Jamie's Ministry of Food (Michael Joseph) from last year. Sally Hughes of Books for Cooks said: "Jamie did well when he was on TV but has fallen off quickly. River Cafe is not moving as well as we thought it might-it is selling but it seems a bit slow."
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In spite of non-fiction's woes, sales of fiction are thriving in early autumn. Hardback fiction was up almost double (90.2%) in October year on year. Books by Dan Brown, Martina Cole and Terry Pratchett have been enjoying healthy sales figures despite the recession.

So why is fiction suddenly outselling nonfiction like crazy? Perhaps the terrible economy has something to do with it. Fiction is an escape. When times are bad, it's quite relaxing to dip into a fictional world. Other than cook books and lifestyle titles, most of the nonfiction is a tad depressing. Just dip into any of the finance/fall of Wall Street titles, for example, and prepare to be horrified.