CU book fair 2002
12 Nov 2001

Granma International - Havana - The 11th International Book Fair 2002 opens in Havana on February 7 and, after closing on February 17, moves on to an equal number of cities across the island. As was the case in the 2000 and 2001 editions, the central venue is the San Carlos de la Cabaña Castle, the largest fortress in Latin America, built between 1762 and 1774 and currently considered as one of the most significant historical locations on the island and particularly in Havana. Readers will remember that the 1998 (eighth) edition was dedicated to Mexico and that from 2000 onwards the book fair became an annual event, in addition to transferring to San Carlos de la Cabaña. That year it was dedicated to Cintio Vitier, one of Cuba's most outstanding intellectuals, winner of the National Literature Prize in 1988, and Italy was the guest of honor; while the 2001 edition paid tribute to poet, critic and essayist Roberto Fernández Retamar, National Literature Prize in 1989, and Spain was the guest country. The upcoming fair is dedicated to Miguel Barnet, author of the famous Bíografia de un cimarrón (Biography of a Runaway Slave), national Literature Prize 1944, and France is guest of honor. A veritable celebration of literature and the Cuban publishing movement, the 2002 book fair will once again be an ideal forum for a varied literary, professional, artistic, and children's recreational program. Writers, editors, specialists, and personalities from many countries will be attending for workshops, readings, conferences and launches of the most recent Cuban and foreign publications. Another event worth highlighting within the fair's literary program is the presentation of the National Literature and Social Science Prizes corresponding to 2001, as well as the announcement of the authors and works that won the Alejo Carpentier, Nicolás Guillén, Nosside Caribe, criticism and edition awards, to name but a few. Concurrently with the book fair, exhibitions, concerts, theater and dance performances, as well as film screenings are being organized in different parts of the Cuban capital, including Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As stated at the beginning of this information, International Book Fair 2002 is to extend its activities to the island's other provinces: from February 18 through 24 it goes to five of the main cities in the west of the country (Pinar del Río, Matanzas, Artemisa, San José de las Lajas as well as Nueva Gerona in the Isle of Youth); from February 25 to March 3, six locations in the central region (Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Avila, Morón and Camagüey); and from March 4 through 10 it will travel to the east of the island (Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Bayamo, Manzanillo, Las Tunas and Guantánamo). In 2003, the 12th International Book Fair will be dedicated to poet and narrator Pablo Armando Fernández, National Literature Prize in 1996, and the Andean countries will feature as guests of honor.