The Book World Prague fair will focus on Italian literature in June
The book fair connected with the literary festival should take place again from June 9 to 12 at the Prague Exhibition Grounds.
The organizers chose a quote from the work of the Italian novelist, essayist, philosopher and semiotics Umberto Ec as the motto of the 27th year of the fair: “We live for books and it is a sweet mission in a world in declining and tumultuous clutter.” “To satisfy the famous writer’s quote, we dedicate this year to everyone who lives for books, be they authors, translators, publishers, booksellers, librarians and many others,” said Guillaume Basset, Prague’s world playwright.
The choice of Umberto Ec, who celebrated his 90th birthday this year, is related to the choice of the guest of honor at the 27th year. The world of the book Prague will commemorate another important anniversary of Italian literary figures, creativity transcends the borders of their homeland. The same century will pass since the birth of the controversial film and writer Pier Paolo Pasolini or the author Elsa Morante.
The Italian program will focus mainly on contemporary authors, the main books have been published in Czech translation in recent years. Italy becomes the guest of honor in a year commemorating 100 years since the founding of the Italian Cultural Institute in Prague, the oldest of all 83 current Italian cultural institutes in the world.
Book World Prague will continue in the program Literature as a Voice of Freedom in 2022. Following the tradition of dissident literature in the former Czechoslovakia, the festival in this section of the public stands offers authors fighting for freedom. The Book World Prague Fair also belongs to children and is preparing meetings with a number of popular authors and illustrators, entertaining visitors with theater and various workshops, and I also think of educational programs.
After the reconstruction of the Industrial Palace, a trade fair will be held at the Exhibition Grounds in the new premises. Visitors will enter the complex through the gate under the Marold panorama. A long hall will be built on the Brussels Road and the visitor will be able to go to Křižík’s pavilions. The program halls will be mainly in tents.
The Book World Prague could not take place in 2020 due to a pandemic, last year it was held in September. 34,000 people came to him. “Our dream goal is to approach the last pre-pandemic record year this year, when we welcomed more than 50,000 readers. We adapt the quality and scope of the program and exhibitions to this, “said Radovan Auer, the world’s book director.