After a three-year break, the fair will take place again in April. A new format should not only be used to talk about individual books, but also to set a clear signal against hate.
At this year’s Leipzig Book Fair (April 27 to 30), readers, authors and publishers will be able to talk about socially relevant topics. In a book bar, topics should be discussed, not just individual books, said Book Fair Director Oliver Zille at the presentation of the Book Fair program in Leipzig today.
Another new format will be an open society forum, with which the fair wants to send a clear signal against hate this year, according to Zille: “Hate, racism and exclusion have also been directed against protagonists in the industry in the past.”
Guest country Austria wants to present itself as open
Under the name “Mea ois wia mia” (“More than us”), the guest country Austria also wants to set a political and literary example: “It is meant as a counter-concept to “Mia san mia”, said the head of literature at the Austrian radio station Katja Gasser, who put together the program at the host country’s stand. The country wants to present itself as open and call for dialogue with each other.
After three years in which the book fair had to be canceled due to the pandemic, there was real stage fright in the team, said Zille. “It’s not just wipe and move on.” A lot has changed in the industry – the most important thing, however, is that there is still great interest in the Leipzig Book Fair on the part of readers. “And there is also a big boost from the industry, because it wants this trade fair,” emphasized Zille.
Next year, the Netherlands will be the guest country at the fair. Dutch authors are expected to present their work as early as this year. As in the past, parallel to the Book Fair, the reading festival “Leipzig Reads” takes place in the city center. A total of 2,400 events are planned at 300 locations in the city. Expected guests include former Chancellor Angela Merkel, pop singer Roland Kaiser and thriller author Sebastian Fitzek. (dpa)