Orhan Pamuk, Ray Bradbury to lead FIL international programs

The 23rd edition of the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) will welcome world-renowned writers including Orhan Pamuk, Ray Bradbury, Carlos Fuentes, and Mario Vargas Llosa for its international literary programs. Beginning this year on November 28, FIL is a nine-day gathering of authors, publishers, artists, and intellectuals from throughout the Spanish-speaking world and beyond.

Turkish Nobel Prize-winning writer Orhan Pamuk will open FIL's Literary Program (Salón Literario) on Sunday, November 30, presenting his latest book, The Museum of Innocence, which was released in Spanish in October 2009. Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa will present La Libertad y la vida ( Freedom and Life), a book documenting his work as a writer, and Mexican author Carlos Fuentes will give an exclusive presentation of his new book, Adán en Edén ( Adam in Eden), to be published in early 2010.

A special literary program devoted to Los Angeles, USA, the 2009 FIL Guest of Honor, will be headed by American author Ray Bradbury, participating via satellite. Nearly 60 literary activities will focus on the Los Angeles region, and throughout the festival LA-area literature, theater, film, music, visual arts, and culture will be spotlighted.

Other languages will be recognized as part of FIL's Pages from the World literary program, which will present authors from Jordan, the UK, and Russia. The Fair's diverse literary programs will also present authors of German, Swiss, Austrian, French, Lebanese, Canadian, Korean, and Syrian heritage.

Founded in 1987, the Gudalajara International Book Fair (Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara, or "FIL") is the most significant event of the year for Spanish-language publications, and the second-largest book fair worldwide after that of Frankfurt. An estimated 500,000 readers attend the event each year, as well as 1,600 publishers from 40 countries.

FIL will be held at the Expo Center in Guadalajara, Mexico, from November 28 to December 6. Daily entrance fee for the general public is 20 pesos (about €1). More information is available at http://www.fil.com.mx/ingles/i_index.asp.