Alexijevičová, Ardoneová or Bärfuss at the Book World Prague
This year’s guest of honor is Italy. Donatella Di Pietrantonio or the author of strong stories Viola Ardone will introduce themselves. Nobel laureate in literature Světlana Alexijevičová will speak in the Literature section as the voice of freedom. Israeli author Etgar Keret and many others will also come.
Rising star Claudia Durastantio, writer, screenwriter Gianfranco Calligarich and renowned psychoanalyst Luigi Zoja will arrive from Italy. The popular chansonnier Peppe Voltarelli sings.
“Belarusian Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexiyevich critically looks at both the Soviet and post-Soviet eras in her books and public speeches. She is under pressure for her attitudes. At the Book World Prague 2022, join the Literature as a Voice of Freedom section, which wants to serve as a public tribune for creators fighting for freedom. The human rights activist from Hong Kong, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize Nathan Law, will also be given space for her opinions in it, “said Pavla Umlaufová on behalf of the organizers.
Book World Prague 2022 will focus on Ukraine, thus partially replacing the canceled Kiev Book Arsenal.
Lukáš Bärfuss
Photo: Book World Prague
“We believe that in this way we can help keep the book industry running in the war-torn country, introduce the richness of Ukrainian literature and culture and help keep people on the run from losing touch with children,” said Radovan Auer, the fair’s director.
A separate trade fair stand will be reserved for the presentation of Ukrainian works. There is also a multimedia show Fokstroty inspired by Ukrainian avant-garde poetry. Ukrainian children can take books in their native language for free from the fair.
Other guests of the festival include the Swiss novelist Lukas Bärfuss or the Israeli storyteller Etgar Keret, the British Naomi Wood and the Moroccan novelist Leïla Slimani.