The story begins in 1971, in Tahiti. Marie-Claude and Didier Millet arrive on the island—partly by chance, mostly by choice. Drawn to the rhythm of the Pacific, they establish a publishing house in partnership with Hachette, bringing to life books that capture elsewhere, the call of the horizon, the landscapes and stories of the Pacific—from the Marquesas Islands to New Caledonia, from ocean expeditions to the fading echoes of past voyages.
As often happens, one place leads to another. Paris, then Singapore. Didier Millet founds Éditions Didier Millet (EDM), carving a niche in Southeast Asia’s history, art, and memory. Books of history, photography, encyclopedias, museum catalogues, commissioned works—the house publishes volumes on Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, capturing the essence of a region in motion. Over time, EDM becomes a publishing reference, opening branches in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, in Paris, Éditions du Pacifique follows its own path. Marie-Claude steers the house with a steady hand, translating EDM’s works into French while curating an imprint shaped by image, journey, and the passage of time. Sketchbooks of watercolors that bring cityscapes to life, photography books that preserve what is vanishing, cookbooks that let us travel through taste.
Today, their son holds the helm. Éditions du Pacifique continues to publish books that take their time—beautifully crafted volumes, illustrated narratives, photography books, miscellanies meant to be leafed through at leisure. And sometimes, custom editions, created in collaboration or on commission. But always with the same idea: to make books a space of escape, objects to hold, to return to—gateways to places real and imagined.
The story continues.
All it takes is opening a book to remember.