Foundation Director Carolyn Perry invited to speak at 41st Cairo International Book Fair

The United Kingdom was guest of honour at this year’s Cairo International Book Fair, which featured cultural debates between intellectuals, writers, scientists and the reading public.

Some of Britain’s top writers – novelists, poets and children’s authors – were invited to the fair to take part in events with their Egyptian counterparts.

Unlike the book fairs in London or Frankfurt the Cairo Book Fair is open to the public and is one of the largest cultural events in the Middle East attracting over 1.5 million visitors.

This year the British Council delivered the UK Guest of Honour programme at the 41st Cairo International Book Fair with UK partners The London Book Fair, The Publishers Association (PA) and the Independent Publishers Guild (IPG).

There was a rich and varied programme of events spread over ten days celebrating the ‘full circle’ of the literature world from writers to publishers to readers which included:•55 speakers from both the UK and Egypt including acclaimed authors Anthony Horowitz, Dame Margaret Drabble and Ben Okri.

 •11 panel discussions, 14 Literary cafes, an evening of poetry readings, two musical performances and three days of crowd-gathering street theatre.

•A delegation of 20 top UK publishers who were able to build networks and have discussions with their Arab counterparts.

•A conference on encouraging young readers opened by First Lady Suzanne Mubarak and attended by 200 policy makers, librarians and teachers with representation from the National Literacy Trust, Reading Agency and Book Trust. 

The programme proved an enriching experience for both the local audience and the UK authors who helped deliver it.   

http://www.britishcouncil.org/egypt-arts-culture-cairo-book-fair-speakers.htm