 |
| The Paris Book Fair advertises its guest of honour. |
The aroma of Brazilian
cooking, the poetry of the Portuguese language, and a spirit of protest pervaded
this year’s Paris Book Fair, March 20 - 23.
Billed as “un
pays plein de voix” (a country full of voice), Brazil was the guest of honour,
with 48 writers invited. The world-renowned Paulo Coelho was supposed to be the
star of this lineup, but he couldn’t fit Paris into his busy schedule, according
to the Fair’s organizers, so others kept the words going.
 |
| Ana Paula Maia (photo: M. Correa) |
Maia's French publisher, Paula Anacaona of Anacaona Editions, told SWAN that the young Brazilian author gives voice to those who normally have no presence in literature - a slaughterhouse employee, a worker at a crematorium.
At the Fair, Maia and her peers discussed topics ranging from the depiction of urban violence to dealing with memory and displacement.
But food was also a part of the experience at the Brazilian pavillion, as chefs gave workshops on the country’s cuisine, presenting appetizing-looking concoctions alongside their cookbooks.
But food was also a part of the experience at the Brazilian pavillion, as chefs gave workshops on the country’s cuisine, presenting appetizing-looking concoctions alongside their cookbooks.
The smell of food intermingled with sounds of protest when, on the second day of the Fair, French writers demonstrated to highlight the dangers that all in the profession are facing:
work insecurity, "derisory" income, and unfavourable state regulation, among other issues.
“No writers,
no books,” the protesters warned via their placards.
Still, during
the four days of the Fair, book lovers filled rows of sturdy white
plastic chairs as they listened to the invited Brazilian authors as well as
writers from Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and elsewhere.
 |
| Writers from France's overseas territories. |
The African
presence has continued to grow, and the huge pavilion featuring “Livres et
auteurs du Bassin du Congo” (Books and Writers of the Congo Basin) acts as a
magnet for a broad cross-section of visitors.
African and
Caribbean authors participated too in readings and debates at the pavillions of publishers from French
overseas territories including Mayotte, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin.
Guadeloupe’s Editions
Jasor presented several writers including playwright Gerty Dambury, and the
Guadeloupe Region’s Culture Service promoted its upcoming Caribbean Writers
Congress, taking place on the island April 15 to 18.
 |
| Dominique Hubert |
“We’ll have
writers from all over the Caribbean, speaking French, Spanish, English, and
showing the richness of the region’s literature,” said spokesperson Dominique
Hubert. (SWAN will have a special report on the biennial Congress in April.)
Another
highlight of the fair has been discovering off-beat, independent publishers
that produce strikingly original books, both in format and content.
La Cheminante,
a French publishing house headed by Sylvie Darreau, has launched a Harlem
Renaissance collection, for instance, that emphasizes the links between African
American writers and the Diaspora.
Beautifully produced, the layout of the books tells as much of
a story as the words. Even the font and size of the page numbers are meant to
evoke certain feelings among readers.
 |
| Darreau and Boum |
La Cheminante
also publishes French-based African writers such as Hemley Boum, who presented
her third novel Les maquisards (The
guerillas) on March 22. Through a family saga, the book shines light on little-known aspects of the fight for Cameroon's independence.
This year the
Fair additionally launched a “Talented Indies” programme, “starring” up and coming
French-speaking publishers from cities such as Algers, Brussels, Marseille, Casablanca, Geneva and Tunis.
"This is a space where we can come together, and we need that more and more, in light of all the incidents that have taken place since the beginning of the year," said Darreau, referring to attacks in France, Tunisia and other countries.
