The International Book Fair (FIL) opened with its usual pomp and circumstance this weekend, and judging from the hordes of visitors waiting patiently in line to enter Expo Guadalajara, this mammoth literary extravaganza has lost none of its appeal in its 29th year.
The presence of the United Kingdom as the invited country has added an extra dimension for Tapatios, many of whom are already familiar with a good share of the European nation’s music, artistic and cultural heritage. The U.K.’s two-tier pavilion – inspired loosely by a “double-decker” red bus – isn’t stuffed with visual gimmicks but uses its space wisely, with each area seamlessly flowing into another, creating a pleasing coherent whole. The idea to build a section containing cabinets to distribute free postcards featuring collections from dozens of U.K. museums has proved to be highly popular. “We wanted people to take something away from our pavilion, and not just be looking at things,” said one of the organizers of the British program.
Only a few years after its 1986 debut, the FIL had transformed into much more than a mere gathering of publishers, booksellers and writers, with the addition of the ancillary academic and cultural programs. That its size and reputation continues to grow each year is a testament to the commitment of the Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest public university and the patrons of the fair from the outset.
Much of the fair’s prestige has been built on its ability to draw stellar names, including many past winners of Nobel Literature gongs. This year has been no expectation and a packed main hall Sunday listened to famed British author Salman Rushdie give an entertaining hour-long talk about his literary beginnings and storytelling influences.
At the inauguration ceremony the previous day, the fair honored Spanish author Enrique Vila-Matas with the 150,000-dollar FIL Literary Award in Romantic Languages. Over the next week, a slew of British and Latin American authors will pass through the fair, either to present new tomes, or participate in seminars, discussions and lectures.
For more information on the British Literary program SEE HERE
British culture is very much on view during the FIL.
- Several exhibitions are mounted at various Guadalajara venues. SEE HERE
- Nightly presentations by a diverse range of well-known British performers are scheduled at the Foro FIL, in the Expo Guadalajara forecourt. SEE HERE
- A series of British films is showing at the Universidad de Guadalajara’s Cine Foro on Avenida Juarez. SEE HERE
The FIL also offers an extensive variety of activities for children, including daily workshops in three age categories, storytelling, puppets, theater, music, clowns and more.
Meanwhile, renowned British chef Alan Coxon will be serving up special dishes in the Restaurante Los Vitrales at the Hilton Hotel, across from Expo Guadalajara, from 1-5 p.m. each day of the FIL.
The FIL is open from Saturday, November 28 through Sunday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The general public is admitted at all times except on the “professional days” of Monday, November 30 through Wednesday, December 2, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. On these days the public is admitted from 5 to 9 p.m. Expo Guadalajara is at the corner of Av. Mariano Otero and Av. de las Rosas. General admission is 20 pesos.