Frankfurt, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 15th Oct, 2024) An eclectic range of topics will be in focus at the world’s biggest book fair this week, from a row over an Italian mafia author to growing interest in wacky literary subgenres and AI in publishing.
The Frankfurt book fair, which officially kicks off Wednesday, brings together authors, publishers and other industry players over five days in the western German city.
Big Names include Israeli author and historian Yuval Noah Harari, best known for “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind”, American writer Anne Applebaum and British-Turkish novelist Elif Shafak.
But the run-up has been marred by a row in Italy, this year’s “guest of honour”, an annual tradition intended to shine a spotlight on a partner country’s literary scene.
Fury erupted after the initial official selection put forward by the Italians did not include Roberto Saviano, author of mafia bestseller “Gomorrah” who was convicted and fined last year for defaming far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Following the move, Saviano lashed out on social media at what he branded the “most ignorant government in the history of Italy”. In the end he is coming to the fair anyway, but at the invitation of his German publisher.
