Just a few weeks after Portugal announced its program as guest of honor for this year’s International Book Fair (FIL) in Guadalajara, organizers of the humongous annual literary fest revealed the identity of the invited country for the 2019 edition.
India has agreed to showcase its vast literary wealth as FIL’s guest of honor next year.
India boasts one of the largest publishing industries in the world, each year churning out more than 120,000 titles in 24 languages.
Speaking at the recent announcement, FIL President Raul Padilla said the fair will “serve as a door to Mexico and Latin America for India’s literature, and vice versa.”
He also reminded the audience that, thanks to late Mexican writer Octavio Paz, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature and a former Mexican ambassador in India, many Mexicans are familiar with the works of important Indian authors, “including short story writer Lokenath Bhattacharya, novelist Ruth Jhabvaka, and the great poet Rabindranath Tagore, a writer with whom Paz shared the prestige of the Nobel Prize for Literature.”
Meanwhile, Portugal follows its larger neighbor to the east, Spain, as the invitee for the 2018 edition of FIL, scheduled November 24 to December 2 at Expo Guadalajara.
A galaxy of some 40 writers will lead the Portuguese delegation, presenting new works, giving lectures and participating in round table discussions. In addition, fair goers can expect an embarrassment of other riches from Portugal, including a movie series, multiple expositions, at least two plays and a capacious program of concerts.
Representing Portugal on the concert stage will be a diverse array of talent, including Ana Bacalhau and Gil do Carmo, as well as the National Ballet Company.
For more information, go to fil.com.mx.