The organizers of the traditional Leipzig Book Fair hoped to the last that it would still be possible to hold it this year. After all, this world review of achievements in literature has already been disrupted twice due to the coronavirus pandemic raging on the planet.

However, the expectations turned out to be illusory. On Wednesday, the DPA news agency, according to the organizers, reported that there would be no book fair 2022. The main motive is the refusal of many book publishers to come to Leipzig to participate in the book festival due to the unstable situation with the pandemic.

It is noteworthy that even in pre-crisis times, 75% of potential exhibitors expressed their desire to participate in the fair 2022, said the director of the Leipzig Fair, Oliver Zille. “We fought to the end to hold the book festival,” he added, “and there were no objections from the government of Saxony. But still, the pandemic turned out to be stronger than our efforts,” Zille concluded.

In the German Book Trade Union, the cancellation of the fair is regarded as a serious blow to the book publishing industry and to all those who live in it. The head of the association, Karin Schmidt-Friederichs, thanked all the publishers who, despite the pandemic, were ready to come to Leipzig, and expressed understanding to those who, due to security reasons and their own responsibility, refused to participate.

Now the organizers of the Leipzig Book Fair have no choice but to prepare for the next festival of literature. The dates are already known - March 23 - 26, 2023.

bbabo.Net