Belarusian journalist and author Svetlana Alexievich and British novelist Ian McDonald are some of the star names who will grace this year’s Shanghai Book Fair, which opens on August 17.
Alexievich won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2015 “for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time.” She is the first writer from Belarus and also the first journalist to receive the award.
The seven-day book fair, which includes the Shanghai International Literary Week, will host more than 40 writers and poets, Shanghai Press and Publication Bureau announced yesterday.
A new event, Shanghai International Poetry Festival, has been added to the event this year following the success of the Shanghai Poetry Gala Night in the previous years.
“The gala night was a one-night event with poets reading their works,” Peng Weiguo, deputy director with the bureau said. “But this year we have decided to make it a bigger affair with workshops and poetry contests.”
Peng said the Shanghai fair will tie-up with London Book & Screen Week that will include an exchange of writers and scholars from both the cities.
This year, award-wining British science fiction novelist Ian McDonald will visit Shanghai as part of the deal.
Other celebrated names include American Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz, British poet Sean O’Brien. Well-known Chinese writers and scholars, including Alai, Zhao Lihong and Chen Danyan, will also be participating in the event.
The book fair will be open for visitors from 9am to 9pm at Shanghai Exhibition Center. Ticket costs 10 yuan ($1.50) and 5 yuan after 6pm.
