The decision by the Frankfurt Book Fair to honour Italy during this year's gathering did not sit well with a number of Italian writers, who sharply criticized their government's treatment of intellectuals.
The fair, the world's largest gathering for the book trade, opened its doors to industry professionals on Wednesday. Italy has been formally designated as the guest of honour for the event.
From Friday midday, the world's largest book fair plans to open to the reading public.
The invitation to present Italian culture in Frankfurt "could be a great opportunity, but it's not," novelist Francesa Melandri said during a discussion event.
"Political power suppresses the voices it doesn't want to hear," said Melandri.
A counter-programme of events is being planned, designed as a critique of Italy's official appearance at the book fair.
Among the locations hosting such events is a joint stand of Italian publishers in the fair's Hall 5, which was opened on Wednesday with a speech by Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli.
"I was treated like an enemy, like a mangy dog," said Antonio Scurati, the author of a multi-volume work on the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
He was denied the right to speak on state radio on Italy's national holiday, and has been "personally attacked, defamed and censored," he said.
"This happens to people who are critical of power," he said during an appearance at the book fair on Wednesday.
Scurati called the guest of honour pavilion "ugly, really ugly. It's reminiscent of a funeral parlour."
"Freedom of expression is punished in our country," said Paolo Giordano, an Italian writer best-known for his novel "The Loneliness of Prime Numbers." "That's really true, it's not just an impression."
Giordano said "a lot of things had been done wrong" in preparing the official Italian programme for the book fair.
Before the opening, there had been an open dispute between Italian authors and Italy's right-wing government over who was allowed to be part of the official delegation.
The Italian government was accused of trying to exclude critical voices from the book fair.
In an open letter, more than 40 writers protested against the official programme, and several authors withdrew from the official delegation in protest.
At the centre of the controversy was Roberto Saviano, a best-selling Italian writer and journalist who is a well-known and vehement critic of far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Saviano said he will the fair, but only at the invitation of his publisher, Hanser. On Saturday, he plans to give a public talk about "writing in illiberal times."
In a piece published on Tuesday in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Saviano wrote: "I don't see my presence in Frankfurt as a victory, but as a form of resistance."
This year's Frankfurt Book Fair is the 76th edition since the event launched again after the end of World War II.
Over 1,000 authors and speakers are scheduled to appear at 650 events on 15 stages. More than 4,000 exhibitors are showcasing their new releases.
The focus is expected to be on political debates, particularly with authors from Italy.
The fair concludes on Sunday with the presentation of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade to the US historian Anne Applebaum.
Local News
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