Sally Rooney’s UK withdrawal creates demand for ‘book smuggling’ - The Times

The fruit hanging on the branch looks tantalizingly good – round and plump, with a fragrant, deep orange skin.

CommotionIrish culture journalist Aoife Barry explains the decision and describes the polarized reaction. Irish culture journalist Aoife Barry explains the decision and describes the polarized reactionCBC Arts · Posted: Oct 20, 2026 4:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 1 minuteThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Sally Rooney speaks onstage during the Hulu Panel at Winter TCA 2020 at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 17, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Erik Voake/Getty Images for Hulu)The Irish novelist Sally Rooney became famous for writing about millennial relationships. But even before she became a best-seller, she was an outspoken supporter of Palestine. Now, her books are set to disappear from U. K. shelves after she pledged to donate the proceeds to a pro-Palestinian group, which the British government calls a terrorist organization.

Publisher Faber says withdrawal due to ‘circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Sally Rooney’. Irish novelist Sally Rooney says her books have been withdrawn from sale in the United Kingdom due to her public support for Palestine Action, a group the British government has designated as a terrorist organisation. Rooney’s publisher Faber said on Wednesday that the withdrawal was due to “circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Sally Rooney for her work”, calling it an “unconscionable situation for a publisher”. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3UK warns Sally Rooney after novelist pledges to fund Palestine Actionlist 2 of 3Sally Rooney, Greta Thunberg back Palestine Action before appeal caselist 3 of 3UK appeals High Court ruling that granted Palestine Action a victoryend of listRooney told BBC News that the further publication of her work could constitute a “serious criminal offence”. She added that she made “every effort to be honest” with the public about her beliefs and intentions and that she is “wholly prepared to accept the consequences”.

Sally Rooney has sold more than six million copies of her novels globallyNormal People author Sally Rooney has said her novels will no longer be supplied to booksellers in the UK as a result of her support for Palestine Action. The Irish novelist said last year she intended to carry on using her royalties to support the group, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK. In a statement to BBC News, Rooney said further publication of her work could constitute a "serious criminal offence", so she had agreed with her publisher Faber not to continue supplying her books to UK retailers. "I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences," she said. Ebook editions have already been removed from sale in the UK, although many book shops still have existing stock of physical copies. Waterstones confirmed to the BBC that Faber had advised there were no restrictions on booksellers keeping their current copies on the shelves. Rooney has sold more than six million books globally, including 2.3 million in the UK, according to NielsenIQ BookData.

Open this photo in gallery:Author Sally Rooney poses for a photograph ahead of the announcement of the winner of the Costa Book Awards 2018 in London, Britain, January 29, 2019. Henry Nicholls/ReutersIrish novelist Sally Rooney’s books will no longer be sold in Britain over her plans to use her royalties to support Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group banned as a terrorist organization, Rooney and her publisher said on Wednesday. The bestselling author, known for novels including Normal People and Conversations with Friends, has been a vocal supporter of Palestine Action, including after it was proscribed by the British government under terrorism laws last year.

Sally Rooney has said she is being forced to withdraw her books from sale in the UK because of her support for the banned organisation Palestine Action. The Irish novelist, whose books include Normal People and Conversations With Friends, said her public support for the direct action group meant she could no longer receive royalties from UK sales. After Palestine Action was banned last year, Rooney said she would use proceeds from her sales to support Palestine Action. Supporting organisations banned under the Terrorism Act is an offence and she subsequently cancelled a trip to the UK to pick up an award, for fear of arrest. In a statement provided to the Guardian, the bestselling author said: “‘In July 2025, the direct-action protest group Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. The following month, I wrote an opinion piece expressing my intention to go on supporting Palestine Action, which is not a proscribed or otherwise prohibited group here in the Republic of Ireland. “As a result, the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence.