How Sally Rooney's support for Palestine Action led to UK exodus
Ireland's "Salinger for the Snapchat generation" can no longer sell her novels in the UK. The reason links back to pro-Palestinian activists.
Sally Rooney, a prominent Irish author known for her emotionally charged fiction, finds herself unable to sell her novels in the UK due to her support for the organization Palestine Action. Rooney's bestselling book, Normal People, has sold over three million copies and was adapted for TV, garnering immense popularity. She has also penned other acclaimed works like Conversations with Friends and Intermezzo.
Rooney joined Palestine Action in August 2025 after publishing an op-ed in The Irish Times supporting the group. Despite winning a Sky Arts award for literature and receiving praise from figures like Lena Dunham, Rooney now faces the prospect of legal repercussions if she enters the UK, potentially facing arrest. Her publishing house, Faber, has decided to no longer supply her works in the UK, aligning with Rooney's stance.
The UK government classifies Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, and Rooney's support for the group has led to her decision to stop selling her books in the country.
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