Spain Guest of Honor at Upcoming Book Fair

Some 120 authors and publishers from Latin America and Spain will descend on San José next month for the 10th International Book Fair.

Costa Rican Book Chamber President Dunia Solano said the fair, set for June 21 to 29, will feature writers and publishing houses hailing from here and Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela, as well as Spain, this year’s country of honor.

The fair will consist of roundtable talks, book launches, readings and sales.

“Our objective is to stimulate reading, because an increase in reading makes Costa Rica a freer, more intelligent and sensitive country, and what’s more, it gives people a feeling of togetherness,” Solano said.

From the guest country of honor, Spanish writers are set to include Luis Landero, Ramón Pernas, Camina Labrador and Marcos Ana. The chamber has not yet released the names of Latin American writers.

Noting Spain and Costa Rica’s “very important cultural link,” Spanish Ambassador Arturo Reig said Spain will donate copies of the books presented at the fair to Tico libraries.

Culture Minister María Elena Carballo said this year the fair will return to San José after being celebrated previously outside the capital. The event will take place at the historic La Aduana building near Parque Nacional.