Could it be that reading is in style? There are numerous book fairs taking place around the world, despite the impact of a variety of novel digital technologies. Some say they are a threat to the habit of holding a book in one’s hands and undertaking the task of reading it. But this has been going on for years, and we still long for books.
Certainly, there has been a distancing from books. In some countries, they are too expensive, and in others, scarce. In Cuba, where these two problems don’t exist, books are often appreciated from afar… but when February arrives, we can say that there are millions of readers on the island.
Havana’s San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress has been the site of the International Book Fair for years, and this 25th edition (February 11-21) is no exception. Fortunately for us, the preoccupation with round numbers will make this fair a special one.
During a well-attended press conference in the Casa de las Américas’ Che Guevara Hall, the Cuban Book Institute’s (ICL) principal leaders attributed the Fair’s continuing success to the country’s “avid and educated reading public,” additionally recalling that the event provides a place “for literary agents, distributors and publishers from other countries to do business.”
Edel Morales, the Book Institute’s vice president for international relations, reported that among new features this year is the elimination of the giant main bookstore, in an effort to promote more direct contact between readers and publishers. Large publishing houses will have their own tents, and smaller ones, stands, throughout the Cabaña’s spacious grounds.
Some 70 Cuban publishers are participating and offering a great variety of genres, on many topics - introducing 916 new titles, with 3,360,000 copies available.
Although ICL President Zuleica Romay estimated that the total number of titles for sale is closer to 2,000, considering new and previous editions available.
For the purpose of conducting business related activities is the Professional Hall, and Publishers’ Encounters are scheduled, with 67 participants.
Morales highlighted some figures for the press: 37 countries and 317 professionals participating, including 175 writers and 44 artists.
URUGUAY AT THE FAIR
Uruguay, guest country of honor, is proudly recalling the name of Eduardo Galeano (Montevideo, 1940-2015) and, according to Juan Rodríguez, ICL editorial vice president, Cuban publishers are offering 31 titles by Uruguayan authors, among them novels, short stories and children’s books - a total of 120,000 copies.
Noteworthy among these are the novels Goma de mascar, Rafael Courtoise and Ojos que no ven, Vicente Batista; short stories Terribles ojos verdes y otras historias, Mario Delgado; Anacondas y otros relatos, Horacio Quiroga and El hombre que fue Yacaré, Stella Calloni (all from Arte y Literatura publishers); Cuentos de terror para franco, Hugo Mitoire (youth literature from Gente Nueva); Las cenizas del Cóndor, Fernando Butazzoni and El rastro de la serpiente, Haber Conteris (both from the Casa de las Américas publishers).
Uruguayan publishing houses have brought to Havana titles such as Ariel, José Enrique Rodó (Nuevo Milenio); Alfredo Zitarrosa. La biografia, Guillermo Pellegrino; Trilogía de la Revolución, Santiago Sanguinetti (both from Estuario Editora) and among others, Intro, Fernando Cabrera (Ayuí-Tacuabé)
Films from Uruguay are also being screened, (Jamas, lei a Onetti, a documentary by Pablo Dorta); theater presented (Nuremberg, a monologue directed by Santiago Sanguinetti, Kassandra, directed by Sergio Blanco and Potencialmente Haydée, a one-person show by Uruguayan actress Federica Presa, directed by Patricio Ruiz); visual arts (Un simple ciudadano: José Artigas); and music (a concert by Daniel Viglietti and a gala at the Mella Theater).
TRIBUTES
In the Union of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC) Villena Hall, poet and essayist Roberto Fernández Retamar is discussing Rubén Darío, 100 years since the death of the greatest exponent of literary modernism in the Spanish language, and the book La paloma de Venus (Editorial Arte y Literatura) will be launched; while in the Cabaña’s Carpentier Hall, Cuban author José Soler Puig will be celebrated on the 100th anniversary of his birth with a panel discussion on his works and the presentation of new editions of El pan dormido and El derrumbe.
There’s more. The University of Havana has organized an academic symposium entitled El Inca gracilazo a los 400 años de su muerte y su presencia en la literatura peruana actual, and the Center for José Martí Studies, is offering a colloquium on Cuba’s national hero and the launching of titles such as José Martí: Cónsul de la república oriental del Uruguay, (various authors) and Indagación de universos. Los cuadernos de apuntes de José Martí - all from the institution’s publishing house.
Outstanding among other events scheduled, in the context of the Fair, is an international seminar entitled 130 years since the abolition of slavery in Cuba, at theCasa de las Américas, as a preamble to the institution’s recently launched Afro-American Studies program.
PAPER TREASURES & GENTE NUEVA
Literature for children and youth continue to enjoy special places at the Cabaña - Dora Alonso Hall and the Tesoro de papel (Paper Treasure) area, where book launchings, music, and theater performances are taking place as part of a grand celebration presented by the Gente Nueva publishing house.
Cuba’s leading publisher of children’s literature is presenting 130 new titles this year, such as Tengo una muñeca; a new edition of Los zapaticos de rosa,by José Martí; and La media vuelta, la vuelta entera, by Alberto Peraza.
Likewise, additions to the publishers’ Tesoro-Ballet collection, include Carmen, La bella durmiente en el Central Park and El fantasma de la ópera, by Gretel Singer,and from Uruguay, Cuentos de la selva, by Horacio Quiroga.
The catalogue of Gente Nueva releases is diverse: La princesa cimarrona, by Iliana Núñez Rodríguez; Las estrellas del general Quintín Bandera, by Omar Felipe Mauri; Un viaje por el Caribe, by Cuban-American Mario Picallo; and Alguien viene de la niebla; Antología de los premios Andersen, by Enrique Pérez Díaz.
If you’re looking for a specific book, you have a good chance of finding it, but it’s still worth wandering through the sprawling grounds of the Cabaña, to truly appreciate the 2016 Havana International Book Fair.
