Literary Linz – Linz09’s Literature Lineup at the Leipzig Book Fair

Press information, 13th March 2008

“Literary Linz” was the title of Ulrich Fuchs’ presentation today at the Leipzig Book Fair. In the Viennese Kaffeehaus hosted by Linz09 this year, the deputy artistic director of Linz09 gave a rundown of some literary highlights being developed for the 2009 European Capital of Culture year. “Linz Reads Vilnius” (concept: Cornelius Hell) will be bringing Lithuanian literature to Linz. One very prominent name on the guest list is author Tomas Venclova. The “Just Passing Through?” exhibition in the StifterHaus will feature travel accounts and literary gems by some famous authors who have paid a visit to Linz. “Linz vs. Vilnius” is a tongue-in-cheek clash designed to settle the matter of which city actually deserves the title of 2009 European Capital of Culture. Competitors will include Franzobel and Laurynas Katkus. France, Switzerland and Hungary will occupy the focal point at the next “Für die Beweglichkeit” poetry festival.
Before a live audience in Leipzig, Ulrich Fuchs chatted with Christian Thanhäuser, the prizewinning graphic artist and book publisher who is organizing the “Fließende Grenzen” (flowing borders) symposium being staged jointly by Linz09 in conjunction with the RanitzDialoge. Here, authors from around the world will engage in an exchange on the subject of childhood.

This is the sixth time that works of fiction and non-fiction from Austria are being presented at the Leipzig Book Fair at a Viennese Kaffeehaus. This year's hosts are Linz 2009 European Capital of Culture, the Austrian Publishers and Booksellers Association, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Art and Culture, and Literar Mechana. The café offers a gemütliche setting for 21 presentations designed for book fair visitors to get better acquainted with the interesting work being done by Austrian writers and publishers: novels and short stories, cookbooks and detective fiction, reportage and literary biographies, new findings in the fields of history, climatology and the critique of capitalism, astounding children’s literature and much more.

Over 160 publishers and 18 organizations are represented in the Austrian exhibition and presentation area at the Leipzig Book Fair. Visitors are cordially invited to leisurely browse through literary works and to chat with the men and women who write, edit and publish them.