A Word from the Editor: What's on the Agenda for les éditions Leal Torres
Dear friends of les éditions Leal Torres,
As back-to-school is in full swing, the days are growing shorter and an autumn breeze is setting in… Today, I wanted to take a moment to wish you a wonderful start to the season and share our plans for an autumn that promises to be memorable!
Launch of the book Comment naît un livre ?
Exhibition at Artcurial
Festival du Livre de Mouans-Sartoux
Salon international du Livre rare & des Arts graphiques
Launch of the book Comment naît un livre ?
Co-published with the Imprimerie nationale and with the support of the BnF, Comment naît un livre ? [How is a Book Born?] is the meeting of a textual journey conceived and written by Pierre-Marc de Biasi—Director of Research Emeritus at the CNRS—and a series of original prints imagined and created by the internationally renowned fine bookbinder Louise Bescond.
To foster this dialogue—and in response to the question "How is a book born?"—Pierre-Marc de Biasi immerses us in the writing process that gave rise to a masterpiece, while Louise Bescond reveals the crafting process behind a handmade volume. An exceptional literary adventure bridges these two creative stages: Gustave Flaubert’s The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller.
This work—issued in an edition of fifty copies, including ten deluxe copies each accompanied by one of the original copper plates—contains an original text by Pierre-Marc de Biasi, ten original engravings by Louise Bescond, and offset reproductions of ten large autograph folios by Gustave Flaubert. The presentation box also includes a reprint of the original 1877 edition of Gustave Flaubert’s La Légende de saint Julien l'Hospitalier.
With Comment naît un livre ?, we wish to celebrate the book of ink and paper, to honour its millennia-old history, its physicality, and its power to transmit knowledge, but also its unique ability to garantee independence and truth for the future of our rapidly changing societies. The result of collaborative work initiated in 2024, this demanding work reaffirms our commitment and our efforts in favour of a resolutely human and humanist creation, inspired by an imagination of excellence, progress, beauty, emotion and critical freedom.
Exhibition at Artcurial
To mark the launch of Comment naît un livre ?, the Artcurial Art Bookstore and Artcurial’s Books, Manuscripts & Old Prints Department are jointly organizing an exhibition showcasing the complete collection of artwork-books published by éditons Leal Torres.
Open to the public on September 19, 21, and 22, 2026, at Artcurial’s Paris headquarters (7 Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées Marcel Dassault, 75008), the exhibition will present five artwork-books created in collaboration with artists such as Gérard Traquandi, Susanna Fritscher, and Alexandre Capan, in dialogue with literary works by Fernando Pessoa, Ingeborg Bachmann, Kenneth White, and Patrick Quiller.
Our team will be present to introduce you to our publications, but please feel free to contact Lelag Vosguian (lelag.vosguian@editionslealtorres.com) if you would like to arrange a guided tour of the exhibition.
Festival du Livre de Mouans-Sartoux
We are also delighted to announce our participation in the 39th edition of the Mouans-Sartoux Book Festival. Centered on the theme "The world is worth it!", this unmissable annual event—which is free to attend—will take place from October 2 to 4, 2026. Les éditions Leal Torres will host two events on Sunday, October 4, featuring Pierre-Marc de Biasi: a screening followed by a discussion, and an interview.
a. Screening and discussion of the film Comment naît un livre ? (How Is a Book Born?) by François Goizé: How is a book born? Through what processes does an idea—originating in a writer's mind—evolve into a writing project, taking shape as drafts and then a final version, before ultimately becoming a published work? Where does this extraordinary object—the book, a witness to our history—come from? Its creation involves a long chain of expertise—both tangible and intellectual—dedicated to transmitting knowledge and enriching the cultural heritage that safeguards our humanity. By revealing every stage in the conception and production of an exceptional book, this documentary serves as an act of resistance: it celebrates the book and its future, demonstrating that—in terms of creation, sharing, and longevity—it remains the irreplaceable medium for any humanist culture worthy of the name.
— October 4, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at Cinéma La Strada (201 Avenue de Cannes)
b. Exhibition of the work Comment naît un livre ? and a conversation with writer, researcher, and artist Pierre-Marc de Biasi: Centered on the theme "The Book as a Work of Art," this discussion will explore the sensory dimension of the book, the magic of its materiality, and its incomparable power to transmit ideas. The event will highlight the artistic crafts involved in creating exceptional books, as well as the challenges surrounding the preservation and transmission of these specialized skills and know-how.
— October 4, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, at the Espace de l'Art Concret – Donation Albers Honegger, in the park of the Château de Mouans-Sartoux
We hope to see you there!
Salon international du Livre rare & des Arts graphiques
To end the year in style, we will have the great pleasure of participating for the first time in the International Rare Book & Graphic Arts Fair, taking place at the Carreau du Temple from December 4 to 6, 2026.
A premier event in the field, this fair brings together the finest specialists in antiquarian and collectible books, publishers of contemporary fine press editions, and bibliophiles, collectors, and book lovers alike.
Our team has been working on preparations for this new season for a long time. We are very much looking forward to meeting you in the coming months and sharing our work with you.
In the meantime, I wish you a pleasant end of summer, and many inspiring projects in the new season!
Warm regards,
Priscillia Leal Torres