Industry meeting
Despite strikes, the halls at the Leipzig Book Fair were full
There is a huge rush at the Leipzig Book Fair. photo
© Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
Friday is considered the busiest day for the Leipzig Book Fair. Even a strike in local transport doesn’t stop the rush. Celebrities like Katja Riemann and Sky du Mont provide insights into their books.
A warning strike prevented visitors from going to the book fair on Friday Leipzig makes it difficult. But despite the labor dispute in local public transport, the halls were also well attended on the second day of the trade fair. This was also ensured by line 16 leading to the exhibition halls, which was the only tram in use in Leipzig despite the strike. According to the trade fair, around 88,000 visitors came on the first two days. In 2003 there were 72,000 during this period. Last year a total of 274,000 people came to the site.
Numerous readings and discussions attracted visitors to the stands. Many celebrities were there. The actor and author Sky du Mont reported on even small moments from which he found a lot of positive things. “To say everything is pink would be nonsense,” said the 76-year-old. “But I’m looking forward to things.”
For the presentation of his latest book “I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Because it’s going to be like it’s never been before,” du Mont also had an example ready: “Tomorrow I’ll be home alone. I’ll buy an almond croissant and have a cup Coffee, turn on the TV and watch football.”
Actress Katja Riemann is looking for an English publisher to translate her book, as she said in Leipzig. “All the actors I write about obviously can’t read the book because they don’t speak German,” said the 60-year-old, explaining her search. In her book “Time of Fences” Riemann tells of her travels through different camps where refugees are accommodated.
During the day of the trade fair, the Berlin-based AvivA Verlag was awarded the Kurt Wolff Prize 2024. For a quarter of a century, the publishing house has been “bringing the female voices of world literature to the fore with unceasing energy and great intuition,” according to the foundation’s statement. “A small universal library was created” across eras, continents and genres. The prize is endowed with 35,000 euros. The prize, worth 15,000 euros, went to the mikrotext publishing house in Berlin.
There was also an award for children’s and young adult book author Jochen Till as Reading Artist of the Year. The reading promotion interest group of the German Book Trade Association honored his readings for young audiences. According to the information, the jury is “convinced by his work, his enthusiasm for his fans and his original way of conveying it.”