Society

Tunisia-Oldest bookseller launches distress call to save a 70 year old temple of knowledge as it faces closure

In Rue d’Angleterre at the centre of downtown Tunis is nested the oldest bookseller in the capital.

This bookstore, which has existed since the fifties, is facing closure. Historically, this bookstore dates back to the era of its founder, a Tunisian Jew named Victor Guez.He sold them following Tunisia’s Independence to Bouraoui Hedhili who has furnished them with a huge and rich collection of books and magazines, in more than five languages.

According to the TAP agency, The place has become a pilgrimage for book lovers and enthusiasts from all walks of life. Today, this temple of knowledge is faced with a threatened closure. The heir of this place, which is steeped in memories for decades, Dean of Booksellers Faouzi Hedhili has been unable to pay his employees. His frail shoulders are crumbling under the weight of crippling debts owed to the National Social Security Fund (French: CNSS) and other operating fees of his increasingly deserted place.

Over the past few years, a burden of mounting debts has been noticed while sales of books have shrunk like a skin despite their reasonable prices.In a bitter tone full of regret for having no choice but to close this bookstore, the owner of the premises told TAP in an interview that he couldn’t take it anymore. “The book has fallen prey to a never-ending crisis. After the grip of the internet on a large readership, particularly among young adults, the coronavirus crisis has added insult to injury”.

Not touching books for fear of contracting the coronavirus is seen even among our regular customers,” he pointed out. A memory of over 300.000 books could vanish in a puff of smoke

Over 300,000 books from all categories combined (novels, essays, history books, pocket books, collections of poetry, works of philosophy, books by Fikh (jurisprudence), academic and scientific research as well as surveys … by ancient and contemporary authors , in Arabic, French, English, Italian, German, Spanish …) richly furnish this exceptional place.

Several rare works dating back to early 20th century are now threatened with loss.

A memory of 300.000 books could vanish in a puff of smoke and the whole place could be replaced by another trivial vocation or turn into a soulless business, Hedhili told TAP with regret.

Amid the coronavirus crisis, which has seriously impacted the entire cultural sector, Hedhili launched a distress call to the Municipality of Tunis to intervene and save this little jewel and temple of knowledge.

He called on the Cultural Affairs Ministry and the Education Ministry to revive the book sector and promote reading habits.