The theme of the Portuguese presence at the Lima Book Fair in Peru, which has Portugal as the guest country, comes from José Saramago, honored throughout the event, from July 22 to August 7.
“The end of one journey is only the beginning of another”, Saramago’s phrase, was “the motto chosen for the participation of Portugal”, which will have a pavilion of 160 square meters, “located in a prominent area of the Parque de los Próceres”, where the VI International Book Fair of Lima is held, with a bookstore space, an auditorium and an exhibition dedicated to the Portuguese Nobel Prize for Literatureaccording to Camões — Institute for Cooperation and Language.
Twelve Portuguese-language authors, or those associated with its dissemination and research, including Afonso Cruz, David Machado, Jerónimo Pizarro, José Luís Peixoto and Margarida Vale de Gato, make up the previously announced delegation, joined by the filmmaker António-Pedro Vasconcelos and the musicians Marta Pereira da Costa and Pedro Jóia, according to new information from the Portuguese representation.
Adélia Cravalho, Ana Filomena Amaral, André Letria, Carla Maia de Almeida, Fernando Évora, Luis Novais and Lauren Mendinueta are the other authors who are part of the entourage.
The delivery of the Doctor Honoris Causa of the National University of San Marcos to António Lobo Antunes, known for two weeks, will mark the opening day of the book fair to the public, next Friday.
The first of the three areas of the Portuguese pavilion corresponds to a bookstore, managed by a Peruvian bookseller with the support of Portugal, with translated works by Portuguese authors and an exhibition of books in Portuguese by the writers of the delegation, which “later offered to public libraries”. in Peru”, indicates the Camões institute.
The auditorium will host the program, consisting of sessions with guest authors, video screenings on Portuguese culture and literature, as well as “Portugal as a tourist destination”.
The exhibition area includes an exhibition dedicated to José Saramago, alluding to the centenary of his birth, which is celebrated this year.
Portugal’s participation as “guest of honor” dates back to 2020, the year in which the fair was not held, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the status of guest country having been transferred to this year.
The Peruvian Book Chamber, which organizes the international fair, indicates that the event will have more than 140 pavilions, and presents a program that exceeds 600 activities, 204 of which are aimed at children and young people.
There will also be 50 foreign guests, including 15 Portuguese, 17 music, dance and theater shows, more than 30 events in the field of science and the participation of nine embassies.
The Portuguese presence is coordinated by the Interministerial Team of International Book Fairs, Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language, the General Directorate of Books, Archives and Libraries, Tourism of Portugal and the Investment and Trade Agency of Portugal (AICEP), in collaboration with the Embassy of Portugal in Peru.
For the opening session of the fair, this Thursday, the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs is expectedJoão Gomes Cravinho, who is also expected to participate in the honorary doctorate award ceremony for António Lobo Antunes, a few months after the publication of the writer’s new novel, “The Size of the World”, already announced for October.
The distinction to the Portuguese author is granted by the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, founded in 1551, the main university in Peru and the oldest in the American continent.
Source: Observadora
