Cape Town Book Fair


Cape Town Book Fair 13 - 16 June 2009

We are living, according to an ancient Chinese curse, in interesting times.

Our response as the Cape Town Book Fair, has been to upgrade the pleasure factor at the fair and a stunning array of stories and ideas await this year's fairgoers. It is a fact that many of the country's most prominent intellectuals come to the Cape Town Book Fair to discuss, debate and voice their opinions. The 2009 programme is as wide ranging and vast as ever. The bookfair programme is a respected part of the Cape Town Book Fair and we encourage you to peruse the programme and make your choices early. The richness of this year's programme, as in previous years, contributes to everyone's cerebral needs in a very elegant way. It is tremendously reassuring that books are still seen as valuable and remain vital to South Africans.

However, to misquote from one of our children's books "all is not dreary in the deep dark wood" as we also celebrate the art of storytelling, fine fiction and poetry. Political and environmental issues will be debated, together with globalisation and current affairs. British chick-lit author Adele Parks features strongly alongside South African John van de Ruit with his Spud-Learning to Fly. Crime in fact and fiction also features prominently with writers such as Antjie Krog and Deon Meyer. Also likely to be popular is the launch of Allan Boesak's biography.

Do not forget to bring your families along - there's a great programme of events for children and young adults. It has been a pleasure over the past few years to watch the increase in participation in cultural activities by young people in Cape Town. A healthy society values all its members and I am pleased that, together with publishers in South Africa, we have put together such a fine Children's Programme.

Ultimately, a big thank you to all our visitors who are the one's who make this Cape Town Book Fair - you are generous in contributions to the debate, virtuous in patience amidst the hustle and bustle and always encouraging to all writers.

We look forward to welcoming you this year.

Vanessa Badroodien

Fair Director