Slovenia named FBF country of honour for 2022

Slovenia has been revealed as the Frankfurt Book Fair’s guest of honour for 2022.

The contract was signed on Tuesday (20th February) at a ceremony in Frankfurt with director of the Slovenian Book Agency, Renata Zamida, and Juergen Boos, director of the book fair, in the presence of the Slovenian culture minister, Anton Peršak, along with various authors and publishers.

Boos said: “Literature plays an exceptional role in Slovenian society. Thirty years after Slovenian intellectuals and authors created the basis for the constitution with their ‘writers’ constitution’ after the declaration of independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, Slovenia is preparing a major celebration of its literature and culture in Frankfurt."

He described the local literary scene in Slovenia as “very vibrant and extending far beyond the country’s borders”.

Boos said: “I am delighted to see the great value placed on poetry in Slovenian society. We are very much looking forward to the appearance of Slovenian authors and publishers in Frankfurt and, with them, will discover the stories of the guest of honour.”

Left-right: Juergen Boos, Renata Zamida and Anton Peršak.      

Zamida revealed that Slovenia will be one of the youngest countries to appear as guest of honour, but that its literature has existed much longer than its independent state. He said: “The entire Slovenian cultural community – and the book sector in particular, of course – has many positive expectations for Slovenia’s appearance in Frankfurt in 2022. We’ve noticed that the lead-up to this appearance is already having an impact beyond our borders, attracting the atten-tion of the international publishing world.”

Peršak added: “The Slovenian government and cultural sector consider this invitation a unique opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of Slovenian literature and of the nation itself – its rich culture, quality literature encompassing all genres and longstanding tradition of literary creativity – at the Frankfurter Buchmesse.”

Last year's fair was marred by violence between left- and right-wing groups, condemned by publishers and agents.

Georgia will be the country of honour this year at the world’s largest book fair’s which takes place in the central German city from 10th to 14th October.