280,000 people, 350,000 books & 1 City

The S-Bahn pulls up and spits out hundreds of publishers, agents, writers, scouts, journalists and high-school classes, all of whom have come to take part in the Frankfurt Book Fair. The crowd has a professional look, though not as slick as the bankers who often populate this part of the city. You will see more scarves, eyeglasses, and creative necklaces. And one important publishing persona is know for never ever having been seen wearing a tie. After 40 years in business.

Most people who visit the Book Fair for the first time feel overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of books, stands, halls and people. One realizes that books are a business, and quite a big one, considering that each year 7,000 stands welcome 280,000 visitors (about half of them are professionals) and 10,000 journalists from 110 countries. It is the biggest book fair in the world. It is the place where trends are set, deals are made and even the announcement for the Nobel prize for literature coincides with the dates of the fair in early October.

I stroll through the gigantic halls, which are filled with products that seem so unsuited for being displayed at fairs: books. Reading a book is something private, it takes time (which you certainly don’t have, if you want to take a look at more than one of the 350,000 books on display) and everyone knows that judging a book by its cover is often misleading.

Each year, one nation is singled out by the Frankfurt Book Fair as the guest of honour. This particular nation is given an exhibition hall to present itself to the visitors, hundreds of readings and other cultural events like concerts, discussions, dance performances, and lectures. But this recognition extends beyond the fair: many translations and new editions of books from this nation are produced for the occasion of the fair, creating a wave of international attention in the media.

In 2007, Catalonia was selected as the guest of honour. Their exhibition hall was filled with rows of books (in the original or translations) of various Catalan authors, a space for readings to take place and – unlike in the other halls – comfortable chairs, sofas and tables, where reading was actually possible.

The current significance of the Catalan book market is apparent at this year’s fair. At the beginning of the 20th century no more than seven Catalan novels were translated into German. Between 1979 and 2003 the number rose to nineteen anthologies of short stories and novellas and 64 novels. Taking into account the tourist publications, 60 German publishing houses represent Catalan authors at the fair. Approximately 150 Catalan novels, 600 narratives and 1800 poems have been translated into German. Other markets normally take up at least a little of the impulse of Frankfurt and do some translations as well.

Why Frankfurt? The fair as it exists today was officially founded in 1949. However, its roots go back to the 15th century where there was an annual market held for trading handwritten and later printed manuscripts (Mainz, where Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, is only 40 kilometres away). After the war, Germany felt the need to rebuild its culture, its literary market (most of the writers where still in exile) and its reputation. The Frankfurt Book Fair was Germany’s opportunity to do this.

After a long day and having walked many kilometres in and in between the halls, from one reading to the other I feel very exhausted as I step into the S-Bahn car again. I am glad that I bought The Enormity of the Tragedy on the day before. Strangely enough, at the fair itself no book is actually for sale. Fairs are good to get an impression, but to really gain a deeper insight one has to take one’s time. And actually flip a cover.

Pictures: © Daniel Slusarcik, 2007