Status: 10/18/2022 8:34 p.m
In view of the war in Ukraine, the 74th Frankfurt Book Fair could become more political than it has been for a long time. Federal President Steinmeier acknowledged the important role of books, but also warned against “false” writings. Royal visitors arrived from Spain.
With speeches by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Spain’s King Felipe VI. the Frankfurt Book Fair was opened. Spain is presenting itself as the guest of honor at the fair this year.
King Felipe VI said it was “a privilege to be here.” Frankfurt as a cosmopolitan city and European center with the history of the Paulskirche and as the birthplace of Goethe is the very best place for the “universe of the book”. Spain and Germany have much in common in their culture and are now friends, united by a strong commitment to the European project.
Warning about “lying books”
In his speech, Steinmeier underlined the role of good books, which are an indispensable means of being able to understand the world and oneself. At the same time, the Federal President warned against “false” books and writings with a view to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: “No war, we are experiencing that again now, without pamphlets, without self-justifying speeches, without pamphlets, without hateful books and articles.”
The Federal President said that the destruction of libraries and publishing houses in Ukraine should motivate everyone to help. Material help for the reconstruction of the book and publishing industry is a service to the truth – “an act in the fight against the murderous lie and for enlightenment”. He hopes that the book fair can be “a ray of hope in a darkened present”. The promise of every good book is that the world is readable, i.e. understandable, explainable and accessible to reason:
It’s the books that let us see the world and its current state critically, that enable us to engage in dialogue and discussion, that make clear to us the always big difference between the world as it is – and how it could or should be.
Trade fair as a “countermodel to an echo chamber”
The organizers of the book fair emphasized that the world’s largest book fair should be a place of discourse and togetherness in times of crisis and instability. “Presence helps against polarization,” said director Juergen Boos. Mapping social developments and tensions is one of the core tasks of the industry. This is the only way to counteract a poisoned culture of debate, strengthen democratic discourse and give diversity a stage. “The book fair is the counter-model to an echo chamber.”
Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, head of the German Book Trade Association, spoke of a “cultural event for international understanding”. In a world in which ever deeper rifts are emerging, space is being created for peaceful, democratic exchange.
Back in normal mode
After two years with restrictions due to the pandemic, the 74th Frankfurt Book Fair is taking place again without any major restrictions. According to the information, around 4,000 exhibitors from 95 countries have registered. Numerous debates, lectures and readings this week deal with current political issues such as the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine or the situation in Iran and Afghanistan. For example, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is online at an event on Thursday. His wife Olena Selenska will be present at an interview on Saturday via the Internet.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth, actress Diane Kruger and, of course, numerous authors from all over the world, including Donna Leon, are also expected in the next few days. But she doesn’t want to present a new thriller, but rather report on her life and work. The fair ends on Sunday with the presentation of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade to the Ukrainian writer Serhiy Zhadan.