Turin Book Fair Embarks on 37th Edition with Emphasis on Open Dialogue
Turin: The Turin Book Fair gives everyone a say, Director Annalena Benini said as the 37th edition of Italy’s biggest book fair was set to kick off Thursday. The Book Fair is a meeting place for publishers, writers, and readers, where everyone has the right to speak because “culture is neither right-wing nor left-wing”, said Benini, in her second year as director. She expressed no fear of the all-too-common controversies linked to the event which, on the other hand, have not yet emerged this year.
According to Ansa News Agency, the program developed by Benini includes room for writers and intellectuals of all orientations, without barriers, even concerning the many ongoing conflicts. The fair is set in Turin’s iconic former Fiat Lingotto exhibition space, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli. Preparations are in full swing, and Benini is optimistic about the weather, which is expected to be favorable.
Benini stated that the success of 2024, with a record 222,000 visi
tors, does not pressure them to chase numbers this year. “They don’t worry us, not chasing numbers makes us more serene and also more attentive to what we do,” she said. She also noted that there are promising signs of attention towards the Salone, emphasizing that culture is made of words which are “precious, light, precise,” and that the fair gives space to diverse viewpoints.
Joining Benini are Silvio Viale, president of the Associazione Torino la Città del Libro, and Piero Crocenzi, CEO of the Salone Libro company. They highlighted the novelties of the new edition, which includes 1,225 publishing brands in 980 stands, and the meticulous attention to spaces and services to enhance the experience for exhibitors and visitors alike.
Benini described the fair as a celebration of meetings, words, and reading, with a program of high quality and innovation, especially from small publishers. The fair will feature the Ernesto Ferrero Fondazione Crt Award, rewarding small publishers’ efforts. The event also includ
es music intertwined with words and a new section, Crescere, dedicated to children.
Key events include the inaugural lesson by French writer and playwright Jasmina Reza, the return of Scott Turow with “Presumed Guilty” after 40 years, a dialogue between Cardinal Matteo Zuppi and rock star Ligabue, Emmanuel Carrere discussing Philip Roth, and Valerie Perrin. Benini will introduce Caroline Darian, daughter of Gisele Pelicot, who will share a public trial story regarding violence suffered by her husband and others, an act Benini describes as courageous.
Benini concluded by expressing honor that many great writers are eager and available to participate in the Salone.