The focus of this year's Spring of Books 2014 in Leipzig (Leipziger Bücherfrühlings) will be 'Switzerland's appearance'. For many years, authors, publishers and booksellers have been travelling from neighbouring countries to Leipzig. Switzerland is making its appearance for the first time at the coming Leipzig Book Fair and the related literature festival 'Leipzig reads' with a large literary and cultural programme.
̎'Leipzig reads' is diverse, politically up-to-date and literarily challenging", explained Oliver Zille, Director of the Leipzig Book Fair. "The highlight of this year's programme will be 'Switzerland's appearance'. Our neighbours will bring literature and culture - as popular as they are intellectually convincing, as effective as they are refreshing - to the whole city. Their strong presence will increase awareness of their authors and publishers amongst the public and in the media throughout Germany."
Leipzig reads: Platform for current political discussions
This year Leipzig is the stage for many political authors and issues, for example, Pankaj Mishra, publisher and historian from India, will this year receive the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding in Leipzig. The Ukrainian writer and prize winner of the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding in 2006, Juri Andruchowytsch, will demonstrate at the time of the festival on Maidan Square (Maidan-Platz) in Kiew and is travelling to Leipzig in March to find out about the political developments of his country among other things.
Contemporary literature: From Leipzig to the whole world
Authors such as Margaret Atwood from Canada, Roy Jacobsen from Norway, Abraham B. Jehoschua from Israel, the American Jonathan Lethem, Colum McCann from Ireland/America, Margriet de Moor from Holland, Steinunn Sigurðardóttir from Iceland and Zadie Smith from Great Britain will be providing insights into contemporary literature.
The crime thriller stars Simon Beckett from Great Britain as well as Arne Dahl and Håkan Nesser from Sweden promise to provide great excitement. For the third and last time the focus of the programme will be introducing the public and German media to 'tranzyt. Literature from Poland, Ukraine and Belarus'. The literary landscape of Liechtenstein will for the first time this year be presented as a new member of TRADUKI, the European Network for Literature and Books, in Leipzig.
Switzerland's appearance promises to bring diversity and sustainability
Grüezi (Hello) is what they will say when the Swiss pack their suitcases full with reading materials and lots of activities as they travel with over 80 authors to the literature festival. Among the authors who are looking forward to exchanges with international colleagues and the reading public are Melinda Nadj Abonji, Lukas Bärfuss, Ralph Dutli, Catalin Dorian Florescu, Jonas Lüscher, Milena Moser, Adolf Muschg, Michail Schischkin, Jens Steiner, Peter Stamm, Peter von Matt and Martin Suter to name but a few. In several Leipzig schools tandem readings from authors and translators will be taking place. The major programme planned by the Swiss focuses on encounters with all four of the languages of Switzerland at the exhibition grounds, the Central theater or also at the Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts. In total 40 red benches will from 7 March point out the way to Swiss literature and culture across the city. At the end of the Leipzig Book Fair they will leave behind a lasting impression as a present and sign of its connection with the city of Leipzig. Furthermore, the 'red' Swiss tram, line 16, will take visitors to events at Leipzig's exhibition grounds.
Pleasurable reading for the whole family
Children's and young person's literature in Leipzig will show itself to be diverse and colourful. Parents and children alike can look forward to 400 events at 120 reading locations at the exhibition grounds and in the city of Leipzig, and the 250 featured national and international authors, including Isabel Abedi, Nina Blazon and Edgar Rai. Approximately 300 publishers will present their newest children's and young person's books in March. The young book worms and their families can expect a real treat with an opportunity to get involved, read and listen to stories in the reading room and at the readers' meeting place in the Messehalle 2 at the exhibition grounds. Furthermore, on Sundays, the day traditionally reserved for spending quality time as a family, children under 12 receive free entry if they bring their favourite book along with them.
New to the programme: 200 events as part of the Manga Comic Convention (MCC)
As part of the literature festival 'Leipzig is reading' there will be 200 events for fans of illustrated stories - whether these be Mangas, comics or graphic novels- at Leipzig's exhibition grounds and in the city. In addition, visitors can also try out the art of archery, Kyudo, or get better acquainted with the culinary heritage of Manga's country of origin. Among the honoured guests will be the Japanese Manga illustrators Sakae Esuno, Kazue Kato, Yuna Kagesaki and Strike Tanaka. Furthermore, comic illustrator Bob Molesworth will be travelling to Leipzig all the way from the USA and Federico Dallocchio from Argentina.
The Manga Comic Convention will be celebrating its premier from 13 to 16 March 2014. In connection to the Leipzig Book Fair, it will provide publishers, fans and visitors of the convention as well as the Leipzig Book Fair with more space to develop. As the first topical event of the year, the MCC will present the recent developments, latest trends and activities in the world of anime, manga, comics and cosplay.
The perfect setting
The city of Leipzig will celebrate literature, its makers and readers with 410 reading locations. The city and literary landscape will be just as varied as they are colourful. For the first time locations such as the Kulturhafen Riverboat, the Hotel de Pologne, the Mädler Villa, the Institute of Oriental Studies, the Senior Citizens' Office Inge und Walter, the Guard's House (Wächterhaus) or Arche Botanica are preparing to host a stage as part of the literature festival. Reading locations such as Café Waldi and the Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht) can be experienced in a whole new light as part of 'Leipzig is reading'.
2,900 authors and fans took part in 2,800 events in 365 reading locations during the 'Leipzig is reading' literature festival in 2013.