Book World Prague lives for books, especially from Italy. But the nobelist Alexijevičová – ČT24 – Czech Television will not arrive
Russian prose writer and critic of Putin’s regime, Lyudmila Ulicka, currently lives in Germany and has decided to remain in exile permanently. She therefore applied for political asylum and was not able to leave the country as an applicant. Czech readers may know from Ulická the novels The Case of Kukockij and The Green Tent.
Belarusian Nobel Prize winner for literature Svetlana Alexievichova had to attend a resignation due to illness. “Ukraine is at the forefront of the fight against evil today – and I must know that we are with it,” she said in connection with the Ukrainian presentation at the fair. The book world Prague has set aside a separate trade fair stand during the war-stricken soil, so it wants to support local publishers and creators.
The fair is annually an opportunity to get an overview of current literature from around the world. 416 exhibitors and 746 performers from 33 countries and regions are participating in this year. In addition, readers know numerous names from Czech translations, or they will soon encounter translation news from these authors in bookstores.
Italy has the main say, Czech Television is also presenting itself
The main guest – Italy – is represented by, for example, the writers Viola Ardone, Donatella Di Pietrantoni and Stefania Auci. Psychoanalyst Luigi Zoja will also share his view of contemporary society. From other countries, the Swiss writer Lukas Bärfuss, the Israeli storyteller Etgar Keret or the Moroccan prose writer Leila Slimani, who lives in France, will present his books in person. Readers of thrillers are not unfamiliar with the Canadian name Shari Lapena.
They can also stop at the Czech Television stand, where, among other things, an autograph session by Jiřina Bohdalová awaits them, they will accompany the book When the Stars Cook. “We start the program with the baptism of books according to the show The Wandering Camera. Roman Pavela will present the best-selling title of the Czech Television edition of Zeleninová zahrádka, which is linked to the Polopatě show. We are also preparing authorial and stage readings, where we will present books about three new evenings, “said Hynek Chudárek, Sales Director of ČT.
Those interested in literature welcome the Book World Prague until June 12. There is also a pavilion supporting children’s reading or a literature-inspired theater.