Alert! André Brink – in the news of late – has a new feather to place in his much-befeathered cap: he will feature as an Author of the Day at the 2010 London Book Fair. Brink’s day will be Tuesday, 20 April. Here’s more from the British Council:
Press release from the British Council
The London Book Fair and the British Council are pleased to announce André Brink, one of South Africa’s most distinguished writers, as Author of the Day on Tuesday 20th April, in honour of South Africa as The London Book Fair’s Market Focus for 2010.
The London Book Fair Market Focus programme draws attention to specific countries and highlights the trade links with this region, its publishing industry and the opportunities for conducting business with the rest of the world. The popular Author of The Day programme runs over the course of the three day Fair and each author has a bespoke schedule. Tuesday will cast the spotlight on André Brink and the important work he has done in the modernisation of the Afrikaans language novel.
André Brink said: “Authors are notoriously solitary creatures, so an occasion like this is a wonderful opportunity to meet one’s actual readers. That is a privilege and a joy I’m looking forward to tremendously.”
A professional programme of Market Focus seminars, events and industry debates created to help international publishers better understand how the region’s market operates will take place during the fair.
Professional Seminar topics for 2010 will include:
Amy Webster, International Key Accounts Manager, The London Book Fair, stated: “The Market Focus programme is key in helping international publishers better understand how the region’s market operates and in identifying local industry issues. With the assistance of the British Council, we very much look forward to celebrating South Africa’s literary and publishing achievements and showcasing the opportunities South Africa offers to the rest of the world. Contemporary South African writers follow a distinguished literary tradition and it is an honour to be hosting authors selected from the region.”
The British Council is the Cultural Programme partner at The London Book Fair, programming leading South African authors together with fresh and exciting talents at the fair, helping to highlight the issues relevant to Market Focus writers today.
Susanna Nicklin, Director of Literature, British Council, says: “The British Council’s cultural programme offers a real opportunity for people from different cultures to learn about one another. The programme is a chance for readers in the UK to listen to diverse voices from South Africa and hopefully be inspired to find out more for themselves about the wealth of oral and written literatures from that part of the world.”
Ends
BOOK SA looks forward to seeing Brink at the Fair!
Book details
Please register or log in to comment
