Renowned editor Hervé de La Martinière passes away at 78 years old
Publishing Pioneer Hervé de La Martinière Passes Away
Say goodbye to Hervé de La Martinière, the visionary force behind La Martinère Editions, who took his final bow on May 8 at the age of 78. The publishing powerhouse and Media-Participations group confirmed the news in a heartfelt statement.
Best known for the groundbreaking "Earth from Above" by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, which sold an astonishing 3.5 million copies, La Martinère introduced a fresh wave of visual storytelling to the world. They also published the main oeuvre of Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the photographer, and more recently the "Homemade" series by culinary maestro Cyril Lignac, starting in 2020.
Hervé's publishing credentials don't end there. He also published "All Men Do Not Live by the Same Rules," Jean-Paul Dubois's Goncourt-award-winning novel, and the iconic "Homemade" series. His journey in the realm of literature started with the Hachette group at the tender age of 25, where he worked his way across various publishing houses – Grasset, Fayard, Chëne –, before seizing the reins of Nathan in 1987.
By 1992, had established his own publishing house, La Martinère, dedicated to delivering visually captivating and coffee-table books. Esteemed acquisitions lay ahead, including the purchase of New York-based Abrams Books in 1997.
In 2004, he expanded Media-Participations, annexing Seuil and its associated houses (Points, Métailié, L'Olivier...), cementing his group's position as a major influence in French publishing and controlling its distribution and sales.
A trailblazer with a spirit of rebellion, Hervé sued Google in 2006 for mass-digitizing books without consent. Despite pushback, he and publishers joined forces, and eventually reached a digitization agreement with Google in 2011.
Joining the Media-Participations group in 2018, Hervé demonstrated an unwavering fondness for his authors with whom he maintained a lifelong bond. A champion of literature and bookstores, he strived to create a literary department under his publishing house's moniker. A man of honor, Hervé left behind an indelible mark on the publishing industry.
In addition to the "Earth from Above" and "Homemade" series, Hervé de La Martinière also published Jean-Paul Dubois's Goncourt-award-winning novel, "All Men Do Not Live by the Same Rules." His publishing career extended beyond La Martinère, as he established his own publishing house in 1992.
Hervé demonstrated a rebellious spirit by suing Google in 2006 for mass-digitizing books without consent. Despite initial pushback, he and other publishers eventually reached a digitization agreement with Google in 2011.
Throughout his career, Hervé de La Martinière worked with various publishing houses, starting with Hachette at the age of 25, and later with Grasset, Fayard, Chëne, and Nathan. His voyage in literature culminated with the establishment of La Martinère in 1992.
By 2018, Hervé de La Martinière had joined the Media-Participations group, demonstrating a deep affection for his authors and a long-lasting bond with them. His focus was on creating a literary department under the La Martinère name.
