Sally Rooney Defends Her Work Amid Political Backlash
WHO:
The Free Press - Irish novelist Sally Rooney supports Palestine Action, which the article describes as a proscribed terrorist organization.
The Free Press - Rooney’s UK publisher is Faber; her U.S. publisher for *Intermezzo* is Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
The Free Press - Lena Dunham was among people described as receiving a bucket hat in a *Beautiful World, Where Are You* launch goodie bag.
The Free Press - Rooney told *Esquire* in 2019, “The writing is the bit that I do this for, and at the end I submit to it being published.”
The Free Press - Rooney described herself as a committed Marxist and told the *New Statesman* in 2018: “If you can’t afford it, steal my book,” while saying her position as someone who makes money from intellectual property made the statement “quite hollow.”
The Free Press - Rooney told *The Times of London* in 2024, “I don’t have any interest in marketing my books,” and said she felt “obliged” to discuss her novels.
WHAT:
The Free Press - Faber stopped selling Rooney’s books in response to her support for Palestine Action.
The Free Press - Rooney’s debut novel, *Conversations with Friends*, was offered to by seven publishers; Faber won the publishing rights, and the book became a bestselling novel described as generation-defining.
The Free Press - Rooney’s 2021 *Beautiful World, Where Are You* launch included a pop-up shop with calligraphy and candle-making classes. Goodie bags contained cotton totes and bucket hats.
The Free Press - For *Intermezzo*, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux held over 140 events across the United States. Promotional items included pencils, pin badges, bandanas for pets and people, and Baggu bags.
WHERE:
The Free Press - Rooney’s books were no longer being sold by Faber in the United Kingdom.
The Free Press - Farrar, Straus, and Giroux held *Intermezzo* events across the United States.
WHEN:
The Free Press - Rooney published *Conversations with Friends* in 2017.
The Free Press - The *Beautiful World, Where Are You* launch took place in 2021; *Intermezzo* promotional events took place in 2024.
The Free Press - Rooney said she had no interest in marketing her books in an interview with *The Times of London* in 2024.
WHY:
The Free Press - Faber stopped selling Rooney’s books in response to Rooney’s support for Palestine Action.
The Free Press - Rooney said making money from intellectual property made her call to steal her book if unable to afford it “quite hollow.”
HOW:
The Free Press - Rooney’s essay about becoming “the number one competitive debater on the continent of Europe” attracted an agent, who asked whether she had fiction to show editors. Rooney sent the *Conversations with Friends* manuscript.
The Free Press - The *Beautiful World, Where Are You* launch was promoted with branded merchandise and activities; *Intermezzo* was promoted through events and branded items.
(UPDATED October 21, 2026 19:25 UTC)
Irish novelist Sally Rooney’s UK publisher, Faber, has stopped selling her books in response to her support for Palestine Action, which is proscribed as a terrorist organization. Rooney’s books remain published in the United States by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, which organized more than 140 events there for her novel *Intermezzo*. The publisher also promoted the book with branded pencils, pin badges, bandanas for people and pets, and Baggu bags. Rooney’s debut, *Conversations with Friends*, was published in 2017 after an essay about her debating success attracted an agent; seven publishers competed for the novel, and Faber secured the rights. Its success was described as generation-defining. For the 2021 launch of *Beautiful World, Where Are You*, promotions included calligraphy and candle-making classes, cotton totes, and bucket hats; Lena Dunham was among those who received one.