Svět knihy 2008 - 14. Mezinárodní knižní veletrh a literární festival Svět knihy Praha - 24.-27.4.2008

Final press release

14th international book fair and literary festival

Palace of Industry, Prague Exhibition Grounds

GUEST-OF-HONOUR - SPAIN

Fourteen Spanish authors were in attendance at the fair. The Cervantes Prize exhibition - a fascinating introduction to the work of holders of this highly prestigious award - attracted a great deal of interest. There were about twenty programmes from Spain at the fair, which were organized by the Ministry of Culture of Spain, the Embassy of Spain in the Czech Republic, and the Cervantes Institute in Prague; these included the readers' marathon Twelve Hours of Reading in Spanish and in Czech, at which translators were introduced, readings were given, and there were debates on relations between literature and theatre, "love and passion" in literature, and the influence worked on literature by new technologies.

MAIN THEMES OF THE FAIR

Love and Passion in Literature – included two exhibitions of erotic publications for collectors and love correspondence in Czech from the 19th and 20th centuries, plus other programmes and discussions
Lifestyle and the Book – books on architecture, art and design were displayed on designer furniture in a special hall. Also included discussions on architecture, art and design, and book graphics Egypt – 50 Years of Czech Egyptology – the Czech Institute of Egyptology of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague presented its book publications in an interesting exhibition which also included lectures and films. In cooperation with the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Czech Republic Literature in Spanish from the countries of Latin America - with authors from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru in attendance

PRIZES presented at the fair

Premia Bohemica - for the dissemination internationally of a knowledge of Czech literature (Writers' Guild)
Tourmap - for maps and guides from all over the world (Tourmap and Avant Promotion Festival)
Prizes of the Academy of SF, Fantasy and Horror Fiction
Rack and Little Rack (Writers' Guild)
Dictionary of the Year - 15th year (Association of Translators and Interpreters)
Miroslav Ivanov Prize for Non-fiction (Club of Non-fiction Authors)
Growing with the Book – literary prize for children and young people – This Book is the One (Svět knihy, s.r.o. [Book World])
School is the Foundation of Life - nationwide epigram competition for students (Writers' Guild)

PROGRAMME of the Literary Festival

More than 350 events at the fair, some of which took place at venues other than the Palace of Industry - author's readings, book signings, presentations, new books
Literature Across Frontiers – as part of the LAF project, five European authors discussed the literature of Spain and Latin America and its influence in the world
Das Buch – as part of this programme, authors took part from Germany, Austria and Switzerland
One of the greatest literary stars among the fair's foreign guests was Andrzej Sapkowski; he has received international acclaim for his fantasy saga on Geralt the witcher, which has spawned a computer game and a television serial
PEN Club – Relay – a meeting of 30 authors/artists, members and friends of the Czech Centre of the International PEN Club
Programmes away from the Exhibition Grounds – at the Fra bookshop/café, Café Nordica, the Viola and DISK theatres, the French Institute, the Vltavín Gallery, the National Library, the Kinský Palace

ACCOMPANYING EVENTS – theatre plays and films based on works of literature

4th annual theatre festival The World of Books on Stage, 1 – 26 April, 19 performances
Komedie Theatre, Theatre on the Balustrade, Švanda Theatre in Smíchov, Viola, Theatre of the Estates, Studio Rubín, Dejvice Theatre, Strašnice Theatre, Pidivadlo of the VOŠH School of Acting, F.X. Šalda Theatre in Liberec, Ústí Playhouse, HaDivadlo [Haná Theatre, Brno]
7th annual film festival
The World of Books in Film, 14 – 27 April, 42 screenings
Ponrepo, Atlas, French Institute, Exhibition Grounds

International Kafka/Borges Symposium, 22 – 23 April
Part of the 1st Kafka/Borges Biennale (22 April - 24 May)

THE LITERARY FESTIVAL: STATISTICS

THE FAIR: STATISTICS

PARTICIPANTS WERE FROM THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES AND REGIONS (36):

Argentina, Austria, the Basque Country, Belgium (Walloon Brussels, Flanders), Catalonia, Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indie, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Taipei - Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, Wales (new countries in bold)