THE European Literary Fair recently celebrated literature from our neighboring continent as dozens of new book titles are now made available to Filipino readers.
The fair highlighted the richness and diversity of European writing, covering diverse genres from all corners of Europe: from Portugal to Poland and from Sweden to Switzerland. It brought forth a much-wider offering of “Euro-lit” like never before.
The literary celebration, which started on April 3 and will last for three weeks, will showcase best-selling works of both classic and contemporary European writers.
The opening of the fair unfolded with European flair: Czech beer flowed along with some of the best wines across the Old World as Europe is known to wine lovers. These fine beverages were the perfect counterpoint to the food for which the continent is famous.
There is no better way to kick-off a literary festival than with a book launch. Agos: Modern European Writers in Filipino was introduced at the fair opening on April 4. The newest addition to the European Anthology series published by Anvil Publishing follows the success of its predecessor Layag: European Classics in Filipino.
Agos offers stories from authors across 13 European countries and serves as a sampler of the works of outstanding emerging literary talents from the continent particularly made for the Filipino reader.
Over the fair’s duration of three weeks, the literary celebration showcases the best-selling works of classic and contemporary European writers.
Diplomatic testimonial
AMBASSADOR Jaroslav Olša Jr. of the Czech Republic, who currently spearheads the European Union National Institutes for Culture group in Manila, said, “I personally find it a unique opportunity to exemplify the awe-inspiring assortment of the European literary scene and show that European authors cater to a multitude of literary tastes, [as well as] a variety of genres covering many literary styles.”
He added, “It also [shows the closeness and interweaving of] the cultural heritages of Europe and the Philippines, regardless of distance.”
Much of European literature as we know it owes its present offerings to the continent’s literary traditions that have extensive, well-preserved and beautiful selections of works.
They have shaped philosophy and politics, as well as enthralled generations of humans across the world with the sublimity of poetry and stories that express truths felt by every soul.
Cavalcade of authors
THE fair offers a venerable feast of literary offerings that range from the classics by Spain’s Miguel de Cervantes, England’s William Shakespeare, Denmark’s Hans Christian Andersen and France’s Victor Hugo, to up-and-coming modern writers like Italian author Italo Calvino, Greek novelist Nikos Kazantzakis, Portuguese José Saramago, German Günter Grass and Paris-based Czech writer Milan Kundera. It will surely be a treat for each and every bookworm.
In this occasion, National Book Store will introduce more literary stars and new ones from Europe, such as French writer Michel Houellebecq, Hungarian László Krasznahorkai and Turkish Orhan Pamuk. Czech-American writer Jaroslav Kalfař will also be part of this list.
Many of the best-known poetry forms grew out of Europe. It will also be an anticipated subject, as versifiers such as Polish Nobel awardees Czesław Miłosz and Wisława Szymborska, Portuguese Fernando Pessoa and all-time favorite Austrian Rainer Maria Rilke will be prominently featured.
For those who love a good story, there is also a good selection of fiction from Scandinavian masters of crime prose: Norwegian Jo Nesbø and Swedish Stieg Larsson.
For speculative fiction, it will not only be J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series but also comical fantasies such as the Discworld series by globally renowned Briton Terry Pratchett, as well as the Witcher compilation by popular Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski.
This project is part of the active efforts of the European embassies and cultural institutes in Manila. It aims to showcase European diversity and, at the same time, promote the transnational circulation of literature. Likewise, it wants to portray an entire continent with a strong passion for languages and cultures.
Stakeholders hope that the European Literary Fair will bring European countries and the Philippines closer through this literary tour of Europe that will give a glimpse of the continent with its extraordinary stories through every page.