Světlana Alexijevičová, Ljudmila Ulická, Lukas Bärfuss and Etgar Keret. Book World Prague will be visited by the stars of the literary world
The Prague Book World Fair and Literary Festival announces the names of other writing stars who will welcome them to the 27th year. Section Literature as the voice of freedom will present Svetlana Alexyevichova, a Belarusian Nobel Prize winner for literature, and Lyudmila Ulicka, one of the most important representatives of Russian opposition intellectuals. Other guests, human rights activist Nathan Law of Hong Kong, are among the voices of freedom. Readers can also look forward to meeting the Swiss novelist Lukas Bärfuss, the master of short texts by the Israeli author Etgar Keret, the Canadian “Queen of Thrillers from the Neighborhood” Shari Lapena, the British author Naomi Wood and the Frenchwoman Leïla Slimani.
Světlana Alexijevičová will expand the number of Nobel Prize winners for literature who were guests of the Book World Prague in the program of the 27th year. This Belarusian (and, after her mother, Ukrainian) journalist, writer and representative of literary journalism views the critical moments of the Soviet and post-Soviet times through the testimonies of “ordinary” people. She found herself in court or in exile several times. All her books have been published in Czech, for example Prayer for Chernobyl or Second hand time. Book World Prague 2022 important writer before the Jiří Theiner Award, which will change its statute this year. It will now focus on personalities who are the voice of freedom against censorship and for democracy.
A critical view of both the Soviet Union and the current regime in Russia is also reflected in the work of Russian author Lyudmila Ulicka. In the eyes of Russia’s official line, he is one of the black sheep for his stance on Putin’s regime. He speaks, for example, of the “Stalinization” of Russia. He is one of the Russian intellectuals who condemned Putin’s aggression against Ukraine. Among other things, her novels were translated into Czech The Kukocki case AND Green tent. Currently, both authors live in exile in Berlin.
“We want to give way to a voice that does not agree with Putin, whose views are heard much louder. Although Book World Prague is the official presentation of Russia, it does not disturb Russian culture – on the contrary, “canceled the festival’s playwright Guillaume Basset. Section Literature as the voice of freedom wants to emphasize the theme of two non-democratic countries this year: Russia and China. Therefore, human rights activist Nathan Law, one of the leaders of the so-called umbrella revolution in Hong Kong, which was an attempt to protect democracy from the authoritarianism of the Communist Party, will also perform at the festival. The Chinese government has cracked down on these demonstrations, Law ended up in prison and now lives in exile. Last year, he used his story in a book Freedom: how we lose it and defend ourselves.
The world of the book in the current year will also present, for example, the work of the Swiss novelist and playwright Lukas Bärfuss, who is the only writer from Switzerland who has received the most prestigious award in German-language literature, the Georg Büchner Prize. Bärfuss deals with current and worrying issues, such as development aid during the genocide in Rwanda or the sexual life of the mentally handicapped. At the fair, he will take part in a debate on game writing with the Spanish philosopher, mathematician and also playwright Juan Mayorg, who was inspired by the rumors about the Golem in his writing.
Israeli Etgar Keret corrects with his writer the “debt” he has towards the Book World Prague. He could not attend the fair in 2017, when his native Israel was the guest of honor. Keret’s short story set Lost for Kissinger is found behind one of the most important literary works in Hebrew. Many of his books are available in Czech translation, most recently short stories Then leave it.
By inviting the Canadian writer Shari Lapen, Book World Prague confirms that it also includes literature that appeals to the general public. “Queen of Neighborhood Thrillers” entertains readers with exciting stories, worldwide success launched by psychothriller Spouses next door from 2016. Present the latest book at the fair Not very happy family.
Leïla Slimani, a French novelist with Moroccan roots, is known outside France mainly for her novel A gentle song, awarded the Goncourt Prize. In this work and in other Slimans, he opens the themes of feminism, female sexuality and colonialism. Her novel was recently translated into Czech War, war, warthe first part of a modified trilogy The land of the others graphic novel Handmade.
The Czech reader will also be pleased to meet the British writer Naomi Wood, who knows how to write about history. Whether refined Play with secrets taking place in the turbulent times of pre-war Germany, or in the novel Mrs. Hemingwaywhere he intertwines the fates of four famous writer women.
The organizers of the Book World have also decided to show their support for Ukraine and its writers and other writers associated with literature. One trade fair stand will therefore reserve a presentation of Ukrainian works for children and adults. “Together we want to make up for the fact that the great Kiev book fair Arsenal had to be canceled, so we are planning such a small Arsenal at our fair. In addition to readings and discussions, there is also a multimedia show Focuses, which will show Ukrainian avant-garde poetry from the first half of the twentieth century in the rhythm of disco. We also want to help keep the Ukrainian book industry going, and at the Book World, Ukrainian children will be distributed free of charge books in Ukrainian by Czech publishers, ”said Radovan Auer, Director of Book World Prague.
Book World Prague 2022 is produced from June 9 to 12 at the Prague Exhibition Grounds in Holešovice.