Photographs: Mariola Díaz-Cano
La Madrid Book Fair 2024 has reached your Edition 83, held between May 31 and June 16. Dedicated to sport, on the occasion of the Olympics, his motto has been «Train your mind, read your body». With several transversal activities between signature and signature, and the accompaniment of hot weather at the beginning and a much milder and wet weather later, the Paseo de Coches in the park Retiro has once again gathered thousands of national and international readers and writers front row in their 359 booths. This is the chronicle of my visit to this indispensable literary event on Saturday, June 8.
Madrid Book Fair 2024 — 83rd edition
A little bit of history
The first Madrid Book Fair was organized in 1933 within the events of the Cervantina week, from April 23 to 29 and the first booths were installed on Paseo de Recoletos. By civil war There was a break that lasted until 1944, when it was renamed National Book Fair. It was much later, in 1967, when it moved to its current location in the park Retiro. And already in 1982 the Fair is renamed Madrid Book Fair and it is organized by the Associations of Bookstores and Publishers of Madrid and the FANDE Distributors Association.
In 2003 they wanted to highlight his work with the award National for the Promotion of Reading granted by the Ministry of Culture.
Activities, news and notable events of the Madrid Book Fair 2024
They have been many the activities scheduled in the different venues and pavilions enabled, such as those of the Community of Madrid, Caixabank or RTVE. Has been delivery of the Madrid Bookstore Awards, spaces dedicated to Québec and Africa and several talks, workshops y Clubs Reading.
One of the most notable developments was 'The illuminated night', which took place on Friday, June 7 and the Fair was open until 23:30 p.m.
International figures
There have been several, but the presence of the Swiss can be highlighted Joel Dicker already a regular in recent editions, which once again accumulated a fairly long line of faithful. And who also signed everywhere were the North Americans Lynn Painter, author of the best-selling young adult romance Better than in the movies, and Shelby Mahurin, who signs the trilogy witch killer o The scarlet veil, last work he presented.
A more than notable presence was that of the prestigious Richard Ford, Princess of Asturias Award for Literature 2016 and one of the most important voices in contemporary North American literature. She also presented her latest novel, Be mine, and also gave a talk at another of the fair's activities.
Best sellers and media writers at the Madrid Book Fair 2024
Because they can't be missed and, over the course of the two weeks, quite a few have shown up. Authors from all fields, we have had since journalists, passing through figures of the cinema and ending with those that always arouse the maximum expectation and attendance of followers.
Among the first it is worth mentioning Juan Carlos Monedero or Cándido Méndez. Of the seconds they were Pedro G. Cuartango, Manuel Jabois, Juan Luis Cano, Nieves Concostrina, Pilar Cernuda, Isabel San Sebastián in her role as a writer, or Manuel Marlaska. Film directors gathered loyal fans Fernando verbatim and José Luis Garcia, or the actor Pablo rivero, who also triumphs with the pen.
And those who took the cake when it came to gathering followers were Megan maxwell and Sandra Miró, which were signed with four hands, like Juan Gomez-Jurado and Barbara Montes, in their role as children's novel writers with their Amanda Black series. They also had many admirers waiting patiently for veteran writers like Alicia Gimenez Barlett, or the latest winner of the Planeta Prize, Sonsoles Onega.
Succeeding as they always were Eloy Moreno and Julia Navarro, Fernando Aramburu, Eduardo Mendoza, Antonio Muñoz Molina, María Oruña, Carmen Mola, Cristina Pedroche, Máximo Huerta, Elia Barceló, Sara Torres o Sandra Monino, the best-selling nutritionist Goodbye to inflammation or the last Cervantes prize, Luis Mateo Diez.
The group of fantasy romance genre writers deserves special mention. romance, which represent the new phenomenon that is triumphing lately. And that day they were Miriam Mosquera, Moruena Estringana or Inma Rubiales.
Children's authors
And, of course, children's genre authors who also brought together a large number of young readers excited by the creators of their favorite characters. Among them stood out Pedro Manas, who signs the series of Ana Kadabra o Marcus Pocus, Robert Santiago. It was this author who was honored for his contribution to promoting reading among the youngest. He is also one of the most prolific of the genre, with 80 signed works, including those in the successful series of The footballers.
Ultimately
The Madrid Book Fair 2024 has been a new success of a annual literary event which is already essential for all.