Book Fans Head For Zagreb Literary Festival

Writers and book lovers from the region and beyond are heading to the Festival of World Literature, which kicks off on September 4 in Zagreb, Croatia

Over the following nine days they will be taking part in book presentations, debates with authors and art sessions.

More than 30 well-known writers from the region and from the world will be attending the festival.

One of the biggest stars is the Italian writer Francesca Melandri, author of “Eva dorme”, a political drama set in the 20th century in South Tyrol in Italy. Melandri will present her latest book, “Higher than the Sea”, at the festival.

Javier Cercas, a Spanish author, will be a part of a panel presenting new and recent works. He is best known for writing about the troubled past of Spain, focusing on the Spanish Civil War and on General Franco’s regime.

Another novelist interested in historical topics, Lawrence Norfolk from Britain, will also be present at the festival, discussing his book ,“John Saturnall's Feast”, a historical tale of an orphan who rises to become a great cook, and which has been well received.

Another international guest is the Israeli Sami Micheal, an author who writes on both Jewish and Palestinian aspirations in the Middle East. Michael is also a president of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.

Additional panels will discuss topics such as “war and memory”, “politics and literature” and “intellectuals’ enthusiasm regarding World War One”.

There will also be an art workshop at which young painters can paint the participants and whose works will be put on show.

The festival is organized by Sibila and Seid Serdarevic, owners of the publishing house, Fraktura. Venues will be in a library and a...