The European Literary Fair to be hosted at National Book Store Glorietta will celebrate European literature at its finest. Dozens of new book titles will soon be available to Filipino readers as the wondrous literary fair highlights the richness and diversity of European writing of all genres from all the corners of Europe – from Portugal to Poland, from Sweden to Switzerland by bringing forth a much-wider offering of European literature like never before.
Over the fair’s duration of three weeks, this literary celebration will showcase the bestselling works of both classic and contemporary European writers. “I personally find it a unique opportunity to exemplify the awe-inspiring assortment of the European literary scene, and show that European authors cater to a multitude of literary tastes, and a variety of genres covering many literary styles,” said Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša, jr., who currently spearheads the informal European cultural group in Manila, EUNIC. He adds, “It is also to show how closely and interwoven the cultural heritage of Europe and the Philippines is, regardless of distance”.
From the old time classics of Cervantes, Shakespeare, Andersen and Hugo to the up-and-coming modern writers like famous Italian author Italo Calvino known for his humoristic stories, Cosmicomics; Greek novelist Nikos Kazantzakis, Portuguese José Saramago and German Günter Grass; and Paris-based Czech writer Milan Kundera, best known for his work, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, the fair will surely be a feast for each and every bookworm.
In this occasion, National Book Store will have the chance to introduce more and new literary stars from Europe, such as French writer Michel Houellebecq, Hungarian László Krasznahorkai and Turkish Orhan Pamuk. Czech-American writer Jaroslav Kalfař will also be part of this list with his satirical novel Spaceman of Bohemia which received many accolades since its publication in the US less than two years ago.
Poetry will also be one to look forward to as poets with works from Polish Nobel awardees – Czesław Miłosz and Wisława Szymborska, Portuguese Fernando Pessoa, and of course all-time favorite Austrian Rainer Maria Rilke. There is also a good selection of genre fiction by masters of Scandinavian crime fiction, Norwegian Jo Nesbø and Swedish Stieg Larsson. For speculative fiction, it will not only be J.K. Rowling´s Harry Potter series, but also comical fantasies by globally renowned Britton Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, as well as popular Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher series.
This project is part of the active efforts of the European embassies and cultural institutes in Manila that aims to not only showcase European diversity, but also to promote the transnational circulation of literature. It wants to show a whole continent with a strong passion for languages and cultures. European Literary Fair will hopefully bring Europe and the Philippines closer through this literary tour of Europe –giving a glimpse of Europe with its extraordinary stories with every page.
Agos: Modern European Writers in Filipino, the newest addition to the European Anthology series will also it make its big splash to Philippine shores, following the success of its predecessor Layag: European Classics in Filipino, at the Opening Night of the European Literary Fair, in partnership with National Book Store on April 4 in Glorietta Mall. It will present stories from various authors from thirteen European countries highlighting the works of outstanding emerging literary talents.
