The world’s largest book fair opens today in Frankfurt, showcasing a diverse range of topics, from disputes involving an Italian mafia author to the rising interest in quirky literary subgenres and the role of artificial intelligence in publishing.
The five-day event brings together authors, publishers, and industry professionals, with notable figures such as Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari, American writer Anne Applebaum, and British-Turkish novelist Elif Shafak attending.
This year’s guest of honor is Italy, but the lead-up has been overshadowed by a controversy involving the exclusion of mafia bestseller author Roberto Saviano, who criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Saviano, who was convicted of defaming Meloni, was left out of the official delegation but will attend on the invitation of his German publisher. The incident has sparked concerns about increasing political interference in Italy’s cultural scene.
Despite the controversy, Frankfurt Book Fair director Juergen Boos emphasized the importance of showcasing Italy’s current cultural and political climate.
In addition to the Italian row, the fair features around 1,000 authors and over 650 events. A significant portion of the fair focuses on the growing popularity of niche genres, such as “Romantasy” and “Dark College,” fueled by the social media trend BookTok.
Artificial intelligence is also a major theme, with discussions on its potential impact on publishing, including fears of AI-written books and copyright violations. However, there is optimism that AI could improve efficiency in the industry, particularly in research and scientific publishing.
This year’s prestigious “Peace of the German Book Trade” award will be presented to Anne Applebaum for her work on authoritarianism in her book Autocracy Inc.
