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At Book World, exploring the erotic and the exotic

Spanish-speaking countries are the focus of this year's activities and discussions

By Jacy Meyer
For The Prague Post
April 23rd, 2008 issue

COURTESY PHOTO
Ken McClure
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COURTESY PHOTO
Richard Dübell
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Book World Prague


When: April 24-27
Where: Industrial Palace, Holešovice exhibition grounds
Admission: April 24, 120 Kč; April 25 and 26, 100 Kč; April 27, 50 Kč; weekend pass, 200 Kč
For more information and a complete schedule, check www.bookworld.cz

English-friendly events
Lectures and discussions
Thursday, 2 p.m.: Richard Dübell, author of The Devil's Bible
Thursday, 2 p.m.: Discussion: Can the Bookseller Survive in a Globalized World?
Thursday, 5:30 p.m.: Discussion: The Literature of Spain and Latin America in the World
Saturday, 10 a.m.: Ken McClure, Scottish novelist

Films
Thursday, 4 p.m.: Onegin
Friday, 11 a.m.: The Thief and the Dogs
Friday, 1:30 p.m.: Blood Wedding
Sunday, 12:30 p.m.: Romeo and Juliet

Love and passion; Egypt and Spain. We aren’t talking about your dream summer holiday, but books. These may not sound like typical themes for a book fair, but Book World Prague has a great tradition of spanning the globe.
“This year’s program is very rich,” says Managing Director Dana Kalinová. “The guest of honor [Spain] is attractive, and there are lots of authors, discussions and films.”
Now in its 14th year, Book World continues to bring publishers, booksellers and other literature lovers from around the world together in Prague. While its first day is primarily devoted to business, the rest of the weekend is a haven for book-lovers. Because there are many exhibitors from abroad, books can be found in any number of languages, including English, French, German and, in particular this year, Spanish.
Kalinová says the theme of love and passion in literature came from the focus on Spain. “It’s a nation that expresses those feelings,” she says. “And passion not only in love, but in doing things.”
Many of the invited guests will be talking about passion, and Kalinová expects some lively discussions. “Freedom of expression and eroticism — not everyone understands it the same way,” she says. “It’s interesting to have this discussion. Maybe in this way we will attract people to books and literature.”
Because the discussions will be very open, they may not be appropriate for youngsters. For a more family-friendly activity, check out the Czech Institute of Egyptology stand in the central hall, where you can learn about 50 years of Czech Egyptology.
“Czech scientists have been very successful in Egypt,” notes Kalinová. “We’ll cover the history of Egypt from ancient to modern.”
Or get a cool contemporary perspective from the Czech Geological Survey on the Earth Year and Polar Year. Its traveling exhibition, “Mighty and Vulnerable Earth” will be at the fair, showing how geological sciences are important for sustainable and natural development.
On the literary side, it’s not only books from Spain being featured this year, but from other Spanish-speaking countries as well. Kalinová recommends the discussion Thursday on how the rest of the world perceives literature from Spain and Latin America. Another good discussion on Thursday will be with the European Booksellers Federation, on whether booksellers can survive in a globalized world.
As if getting Spain, Egypt and passion into one weekend isn’t enough, Book World organizers have also designed an exhibit on books as a lifestyle. “The book is part of our lifestyle, but sometimes when you look at new interiors, the bookshelves are missing,” Kalinová says. “There will be a special pavilion equipped like a modern interior, with books on luxury design and architecture.”
Another staple of Book World is film offerings, most with English subtitles. The highlight of this year’s program is Carlos Saura’s Blood Wedding (Friday). Other visuals include the Tourmap Festival, an exhibit of guides and maps from all over the world, and a display of illustrations from Czech children’s books.
Art plays a big role this year with Book Lovers, an exhibition of photomontages inspired by books; an exhibition in honor of the 80th birthday of playwright Pavel Kohout; an exhibit titled “Hidden and Secret: Erotic, Private and Bibliophile Czech Prints from the time of the First Republic;” and an exhibit from the collections of Josef Schwarz.
Whether your literary inclinations run toward the printed page, the big screen or a bit of canvas, you’ll find that Book World Prague has something to offer.

Jacy Meyer can be reached at tempo@praguepost.com


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