Book World to spotlight leading literary names and Kafka this spring in Prague

The Prague Book World international book fair (in Czech Svět knihy), from May 23 to 26, will not have one particular country as a guest of honor. Instead, it will present the “Das Buch” project, which aims to familiarize the public with German-language literature, the organizers said in a press release.

The fair and literary festival will host German authors Judith Hermann and Reiner Stach, Austrian Tonio Schachinger, and Swiss writer Peter Stamm.

“Das Buch will present contemporary literature from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in its entirety — from fiction and children’s books to philosophy, comics, slam poetry, and zines,” spokesperson Pavla Umlaufová said.

“First-class authors, including Michael Stavaric, who has won the Austrian State Prize for Children’s and Young People’s Literature several times, will present their work, often in new Czech translations,” she added.

Other guests include Schachinger, the 2023 German Book Prize winner, the son of an Austrian diplomat with Latin American roots. Bestselling author Hermann comes from Germany.

“Our common goal is to present the latest trends in German-language literature, which, of course, also reflect social developments in these countries,” said Lorenza Faessler, deputy head of mission at the Swiss embassy in Prague. “In particular, we are touching on topics such as sustainable book production, biographical comics dealing with autism, for example, or the conditions in which women write today.”

The 29th Book World fair will feature events marking the 100th anniversary of Franz Kafka’s death. Among others, one of Kafka’s most essential biographers, Reiner Stach, will attend. In addition to his award-winning three-volume Kafka biography, he conceived the Kafka website and is preparing a television series about the world-famous writer in Prague.

Kafka’s anniversary is also marked by the release of the comic biography Completely Kafka, which will be presented at Book World by Austrian cartoonist and illustrator Nicolas Mahler.

The accompanying program will include the section "Literature as the Voice of Freedom," a public platform for authors fighting for freedom.