Another Record-Breaking Year for Guadalajara’s Book Fair

by Aída Bardales -- Críticas, 12/15/2008

Guadalajara's Feria Internacional del Libro (FIL), the Spanish-language book world's most important event, celebrated its 22nd anniversary from November 29–December 7 with record attendance for the second year in a row. The newly expanded exhibition halls this year welcomed some 17,250 book professionals from 40 countries, as well as about 1945 publishing houses and more than 604,000 locals.

Those in the U.S. market continued to increase their participation, with over 530 professionals in attendance and 200 publishing houses and imprints represented.

With many last minute cancellations, in part due to budget cuts, only 197 U.S. librarians headed south this time around—about 20 percent fewer than in 2007. Since 1998, FIL and the American Library Association have partnered to sponsor U.S. librarians by providing free registration, accommodations, and $100 toward airfare; they next they will sponsor 200 U.S. librarians to make the trip.

Publishers and U.S. librarians gather at
the opening of the Salón del Libro.

Still, those who did attend were pleased with the size of the Salón del Libro, where 5000 titles—selected by library experts for library acquisition—from more than 400 participating publishers were available for perusal. Pam Vaughn, library director of Springfield PL, UT,says the Salón gets better every year. “[You have] time to read and think, to look at the books. It helps you know what to look for on the [exhibition] floor.” The Salón del Libro is now in its eighth year; the titles displayed will be included in an online catalog available throughout the year.

FIL gains more popularity outside of the Spanish-language book market with each fair. This year's Rights Center, which doubled in size given the expansion of the fair grounds, featured 93 tables and a total of 180 registered literary agents and rights personnel from 18 countries.

Literary prizes

Gioconda Belli in FIL 2008

Nicaraguan Gioconda Belli received this year’s Premio Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz for her novel El paraíso en la palma de la mano (“Paradise in the Palm of Her Hand”; Rayo, 2008). She thanked the jury and readers with “maracas and tambourines,” describing how such a prize compensates for all the doubts and lonely hours endured while writing. The prize is worth $10,000 and offers an option for English-language translation by Curbstone Press.

Also awarded during FIL was the distinguished Premio FIL de Literatura en Lenguas Romances (Prize for Literature in the Romance Languages), which went to Portuguese novelist António Lobo Antunes and comes with a $100,000 prize. Overwhelmed by the flashes and attention in the auditorium, Lobo Antonues called himself “the Julio Iglesias of literature.” The Premio de Novela Tusquets (offered by the Spanish publishing house Tusquets) was for the second time in its four-year history not awarded. This year’s prize money will be added to next year’s award for a total of €40,000 (approximately US$57,585).

Gabriel García Márquez (left)
Francisco Goldman (right)

The Aura Estrada Prize was formally announced at the FIL; it will go to a Latina or Mexican woman writer 35 or younger who lives in the United States or Mexico, and who writes creative prose in Spanish. Gabriel García Márquez was among the present in support of Guatemalan-American writer Francisco Goldman, whose wife Estrada died in 2007; Goldman described the award as “a way to continue loving Aura and recognize her efforts.” (Other authors supporting the efforts include Paul Auster, Junot Díaz, Jhumpa Lahiri, Toni Morrison, and Zadie Smith.) The winner, who will be announced at FIL 2009, will receive a stipend (amount not yet announced), residencies at three writers’ colonies, and the publication of an excerpt in Granta en español. [For more information, visit www.premioauraestrada.com/auraestradaprize_eng.html.]

FIL will take place again from November 28–December 6, 2009, with the city of Los Angeles as guest of honor. For more information, visit www.fil.com.mx/ingles/i_index.asp.