As one of the world’s pariah states there’s been almost zero coverage of the 30th Damascus International Book Fair that ends its eleven day run today.
There were some 200 domestic and foreign publishing houses at the event, but whether through indifference or a conscious decision to starve the Assad regime of the oxygen of publicity, outside coverage of the event has been negligible.
Not here to rehearse the many dark deeds of the Syrian regime, but as an internationalist journal committed to well-being of the global industry it would be remiss of us not to at least acknowledge the Damascus International Book Fair’s happening.
And to announce our solidarity with the writers, publishers and readers in Syria who saw the book fair as a moment of normality and tranquillity in a country where strife and chaos are the order of the day.
Just curious – what were their attendance numbers?
Based on what I could find online, the increase from 150 publishers in 2017 to 200 in 2018 is a cause for celebration.
Writers, readers and books will always survive.
Thanks for covering the Damascus International Book Fair.
Keep up the great work!
Sadly that’s all I could find out so far, Bonnie. If there’s more coverage out there that anyone is aware of, let me know!