"I loved telling stories; you taught me about pictures." Martine, you said this to your husband, Prosper, in 2024 as you celebrated the 30th anniversary of your publishing house. What does this memory mean to you both?
Martine Assouline: We always used to go and stay at the Auberge de la Colombe d'or in Saint-Paul de Vence. Yvonne — the owner — used to tell me about all the extraordinary people who had stayed there, and we decided to write a book about it. I wrote the story and Prosper took photos, early in the morning. It was very exciting!
Prosper Assouline: We had no knowledge of the publishing world. It was just a desire; an act of love. Unconsciously, we were creating our very own cabinet of curiosities.
Other books followed and Les Editions Assouline moved to New York City in 1999. Can you explain why you moved into the international market so quickly?
Martine: There was that first book, and then several others. People started taking us seriously after the Mémoire de la mode collection, which was a huge international success. So we packed our bags and moved to New York City to try and create our own label.
Prosper: After buying back the rights to our books, we launched a number of new projects on a subject that nobody had written about before — socialites, figures such as Lee Radziwill, Oscar de la Renta and Ralph Lauren. And we very quickly became known as New York City's chic publisher!
Les Editions Assouline now has more than 2,000 books and is distributed all over the world. What are the keys to your success?
Martine: Style. Our unique way of being and of making books, from A to Z, as a team. We immerse readers in a subject without them even realising it, just like in a film, naturally, through pure pleasure.
Prosper: An identity that has been built up over time. I often make an analogy with cooking. Everyone sits down around the table and we concoct our book together. And everyone contributes different tastes.
Your son joined you in 2016 and you asked him to become president of the company. Alexandre, what vision have you brought to the family business?
Alexandre: I started as a graphic designer in 2014. In 2016, my mother asked me to develop the digital side of the company. I then gradually got involved in structuring the different departments. My parents are creative geniuses, whereas I'm more of a businessman. I'm working towards making our books global successes.
What's the next chapter you'll be writing together?
Alexandre: We're developing a luxury lifestyle brand based around books. The first step is the Library Collection, launched in May 2025. This features 12 objects linked to the world of libraries — such as bookends, backgammon sets and magnifying glasses — along with five home fragrances.