Publisher and Author Agree to Halt UK Distribution
Novelist sally rooney and her publisher Faber have decided to stop supplying her books to retailers across the UK. The decision comes after legal complications tied to the author's backing of the direct-action protest group Palestine Action, which the UK government proscribed as a terrorist organisation in 2025.
In a statement, the Irish writer explained that fulfilling publication contracts in the region could amount to a serious criminal offence. Because current laws prevent the publishing house from passing financial earnings from UK sales back to the author, both parties agreed that halting distribution entirely was necessary.
Impact on Retailers and Existing Stock
While digital ebook editions have already been taken off the market in the UK, physical inventory currently sitting in shops remains untouched for now. Major bookseller Waterstones confirmed that Faber advised stores they are allowed to keep selling their remaining physical copies.
The decision affects her complete body of work, which includes bestselling titles such as Normal People, Intermezzo, Conversations With Friends, and Beautiful World, Where Are You. Globally, the author has sold more than six million copies of her novels.
Background on the Proscription and Public Stance
The controversy stems from government actions taken against Palestine Action due to its history of criminal damage, notably targeting arms manufacturers connected to the war in Gaza. Following the proscription, the novelist expressed her intent to keep using royalties to support the group via an opinion piece published in the Irish Times, noting she also cancelled a scheduled trip to the UK to collect an award over arrest fears.
Supporters of the author have spoken out following the announcement. Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, praised the move as a brave stance, while characterizing the withdrawal of literary works as a concerning development regarding free speech. Meanwhile, legal challenges concerning the proscription continue moving through the courts, with a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for the following month.
Sources: BBC, The Bookseller, The New York Times.
