Checking out four million books

By Dylis Jones
If you’ve tired of the fleshpots of carnival and are looking for a relaxing trip with a cultural lift you might want to consider a trip to Cuba during the next couple of weeks.

Four million books and nearly 400 writers and artists from more than 30 countries will be at the traditional Book Fair Havana opening on Feb 14, Valentine’s day with this year’s event focused mainly on fiction.

The XXII International Book Fair of Havana, one of the emblematic cultural events on the island, will be held for 11 days from 14 to 24 February.

The event, in which the renowned writer Leonardo Padura will receive the National Book Award, will feature numerous works of fiction, and many reprints of books published in recent years in the Greater Antilles.

“It has no weight in the area of social sciences, but in the area of fiction,” said Edel Morales, one of the organizers.

This year’s edition is dedicated to Angola and pays homage to the Uruguayan writer Daniel Chavarria, who has lived for years on the island, and the Cuban historian Pedro Pablo Rodriguez.

About 390 writers and artists from 37 countries will be at the event, which traditionally convenes a good crowd to its headquarters, the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña across the bay of Havana.

The fair is held in several other locations in the capital and then extends until March 10 in the rest of the country.

In San Carlos de la Cabaña Pasura the 17th National Award for Literature will be presented to Padura, 2009).