(Feb. 2) – Saints, poets and …publishers: it is not a mere coincidence that Italy participates as a guest of honor in the Book Fair in Brussels, to be held in the Belgian capital city from 1 to 5 March. Now at its 42th edition, the Fair is facing the novelty to host a country: among the factors that tipped the choice on Italy, the fact that the Italian community is the largest foreign community in Belgium and the great interest in Italian literature. The Italian participation, with the patronage of the Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities, the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Brussels, with the collaboration of the Dante Alighieri Society and the Italian Publishers Associations, will offer visitors a wide and updated view of the editorial production of our country. The room containing the event is spread over 17,500 square meters of exhibition space, on which are represented 1,350 publishers (literature, art, cartoon, school, practice guides, books for children, scientific and legal). During the previous edition there were 1,000 authors present at the meetings with the public, 320 discussions and round tables, 162 exhibitors, and 10 animation spaces. Regarding the italian books, their presence is expected within a display area of 400 square meters, which will host a program of literary events run directly by the Fair and at the presence of important Italian authors. In the exhibition area it will be hosted a coffee for literary meetings with authors, a large library of about 130 square meters of books in Italian language and an area dedicated to rights exchange. The library space will be managed by the Italian library in Brussels, Piola Books. (red)
