Book Fair in Turin – German language as a focal point
Published: Thursday, May 9th 2024, 12:50
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The international book fair in Turin began on Thursday with a focus on German-language literature. The Salone Internazionale del Libro in the northern Italian city is also focusing on books from Germany, Austria and Switzerland until Monday.
Among the invited writers are the winner of the 2019 Georg Büchner Prize, Lukas Bärfuss ("Hagard", "One Hundred Days"), as well as Franz Kafka's biographer Reiner Stach on the 100th anniversary of his death. In the fall, Italy will be the guest country at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the largest book fair in the world.
A joint appearance at the Salone del Libro by bestselling authors Salman Rushdie and Roberto Saviano, who have both been under police protection for years because of their books, is expected to attract particular interest. Rushdie, who comes from India, has been the subject of a call for his assassination from Iran since 1989 because of his novel "The Satanic Verses". The Italian Saviano is considered to be under threat because of his revelations about the mafia's business dealings.
Another guest of honor is the Turkish Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk. Bestselling authors Elizabeth Strout and Don Winslow have traveled from the USA. More than 800 exhibitors are taking part in this year's book fair. Last year set a record with more than 215,000 visitors. Even more guests are expected at the 36th edition.
Alongside the book fairs in Frankfurt and Leipzig, the exhibition in Turin is one of the most important literature fairs in Europe. This year, Italy also holds the presidency of the Group of Seven (G7). In this context, the G7 culture ministers will also meet in the Mediterranean port of Positano shortly before the fair in Frankfurt in September.
It is not yet known who will represent Italian politics at the exhibition opening in October. Rome is currently governed by a three-party coalition under right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
©Keystone/SDA
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