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The relationship could be described as one between a dwarf and a giant. And this is not only true of the size of the countries involved. In the last ten years, just a few titles have been translated from Czech into Russian! The Czech presentation attempts to take a step toward improving this situation. Seven new translations were presented to coincide with the fair, including “The Wall” by Petr Sís.
A great deal of energy has been invested by the two power women of Svět knihy — organiser of the presentation, which is financed by Czech Ministry of Culture — Dana Kalinová, managing director, and Jana Chalupová, advertising and PR. Twenty authors also travelled to the fair. Many of them, like Jáchym Topol or Michal Viewegh, have long been available in German translation, but not in Russian…
Dana Kalinová and Jana Chalupová
All the more pleasing was the fact that the interest from the public was great and the stand active. As a result, organisers could determine which titles could potentially be attractive and which would be of less interest. The employees of seventeen Czech publishing houses were in attendance. According to Dana Kalinová, they had promising discussions with their Russian partners. It will, however, be a long-term project.
16 illustrators
It wouldn’t be a Czech presentation without children’s books. Sixteen Czech illustrators were featured, along with their work, right in the foyer of the main hall. In the children’s area one floor higher there were all sorts of things to experience. A workshop of the project “Orbis pictus aneb…” – an exhibition presented as one continuous creative process. The authors Petr Nikl and Ondřej Smeykal led workshops for children and adults to encourage their creativity and imagination. Lucie Seifertová presented the world’s longest pop-up book: A History of the Brave Czech Nation and a Few Insignificant World Events. Perhaps it also qualifies as the longest title of a picture book?
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