From his release from prison in Algeria to the publication of his new book, a look back at the last turbulent months of Boualem Sansal

It’s Tuesday June 2 that The Legendthe new book by Boualem Sansal looking back on his detention in Algeria. A work which was published by Grasset after much turmoil, declarations and controversies. A look back at almost seven months of reunions and tensions.

It is Wednesday, November 12, 2025. on Algerian television, a special edition: “Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has decided to respond favorably to the request of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, concerning the granting of a pardon in favor of Boualem Sansal.”

After a year of detention, Boualem Sansal is therefore free. He heads to Berlin for treatment, the French ambassador welcomes him for a few days. The following week, he finally returned to France, welcomed by Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée. A few days later, he spoke, first to France 2, still saying he wanted a “reconciliation” between France and Algeria, then on France Inter, discussing his conditions of detention: “Being a prisoner is a humiliation, you are searched morning and evening, you are like a dog.”

The writer regained his freedom of speech, spent the holidays with his family, and on January 29, he entered the French Academy. Is he happy, asks Ilana Moryoussef for a report broadcast on franceinfo? “Can we ask a question like that? Obviously! Obviously, I’m happy, flattered, honored, whatever you want. It’s huge”, he says.

The consecration, and then the rupture. In mid-March, the 81-year-old left his historic publisher, Gallimard, and joined Grasset, one of the publishing houses in the fold of Vincent Bolloré. In a forum at Mondehe explains, speaking of a “divergence” during his detention. Gallimard is guilty, according to him, of having opted for diplomacy, when he wanted firmness. There is also the economic argument, which he does not evade on France Inter, at the end of May: “I was surprised to be worth a million euros. Gallimard, I learned that they wanted to offer me a contract for 100,000 euros. And there, I have ten times more. Tremendous !”

But in April, the one who signed him was ejected. Olivier Nora, CEO of Grasset, leaves, the arrival of Sansal arouses a lot of tension and 170 authors sign a forum linking their fate to that of one of the most respected names in the publishing world.

In the process, Boualem Sansal received the honors of the Royal Academy of Brussels and released a few words: “France is finished for me. It’s over, I only have a few months left to stay in this country and I’m leaving.” Tensions, controversies, divorce… The writer finally provided explanations at the end of May on TF1.

“Islam has destroyed my country, I cannot love this ideology, I cannot love this religion, he says. The far right is the journalists who say that, no, my criticism is about Islam, Islamism and Islamists.” And now, The Legendfor the definitive version of an author who has been at the heart of the news for seven months.