Arousing!

At a time when digital technology provides both readers and publishers with new openings, I believe that readers are more eager than ever to take advantage of every opportunity to meet authors and publishers, the real creators of the literary world.

Moving from the solitary, intimate experience of reading to that magical moment of meeting and talking to the author is an experience which can only be generated by a Book Fair.

Consistently loyal to this major cultural event, each year more than 90,000 visitors of all ages throng through the aisles of the Geneva Fair to experience something entirely focused on discovery, on meeting with star writers or up-and-coming wordsmiths, on artistic creation, on the exchange and discussion of ideas and on immersion in rich and fun-filled imaginary worlds.

As a partner committed to the literary scene in French-speaking Switzerland and to the French language, last year the International Fair for Books and Press of Geneva created a literary prize which supports the humanitarian and cosmopolitan spirit of this city located at the very heart of Europe. It is presided over by the author, Metin Arditi. Henceforth the event will also publish a major annual survey regarding the reading habits of people in French-speaking Switzerland.

I’m looking forward to seeing you from 1st to 5th May 2013!

Isabelle Falconnier
President of the International Fair for Books and Press of Geneva.