Serbia is the honored country of 9th Thessaloniki Book Fair

Thessaloniki Book Fair 24-27 May 2012

The organization of the 9th Thessaloniki International Book Fair will be held from 24 to 27 May, at exhibition grounds of Helexpo, organizers are the National Book Center, the Helexpo and the Panhellenic Federation of Publishers and Booksellers.

Thessaloniki Book Fair

Over 200 events will be organized at the 9th Thessaloniki Book Fair. This year, the honored country is Serbia, and the program includes thematic "corners" for children, teens, teachers and parents.

Serbia is the country which in recent years translates the most Greek literary works: Greek National Book Center records 457 titles of Greek books translated to Serbian language. Furthermore, the Serbian pavilion will host the exhibition "Ivo Andric - writer and / or diplomat."

Ten of the most important Serbian writers will meet with the public, while a surprise-presence is that the famous director Emir Kusturica, this time in the capacity of an author, for the presentation of his first, autobiographical book "Where am I in this story ? ".

Among the writers from around the world to give this year's "presence" are also: Victoria Hislop, Edgar Keret, Metin Arditi, Natalie Bakopoulos, Florence Noiville, André Schiffrin, Agata Tuszyńska.

Also, on Friday, May 25, 2012, at 20.00 in the Museum Byzantine Castle the fairy tale narrator Agni Stroumbouli will narrate six Serbian folk tales from the collection of Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic, translated by poet Momcilo Radic.

The Thessaloniki International Book Fair this year honors Serbia. In this context, the Serbian Ministry of Culture and the Embassy of Serbia in Greece, in cooperation with the National Book Center and Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki, organized the evening of narration of Serbian folk tales, as a parallel event that brings us into direct contact with the soul of the Serbian people. The entrance is free.

You can read some Serbian Folk Songs translated to English, in the document below 

Serbian Folk Songs, Fairy Tales and Proverbes (1916.) - Maximilian August Mugge

The Byzantine tradition influenced the oral literature of the Slavic countries, creating a common ground reference among their folk tales and the corresponding Greek. Apart from two tales mentioning Milos Obilic, a hero similar to Digenis Akritas and based on medieval epic songs, the rest belong to the category of magical tales, namely those in which occurs the marvelous [the miracle]. Their images and their actions have an idiosyncratic lyricism, the survival of pagan elements and the emergence of a robust psyche traveled the gamut, from the darkest to the brightest aspects, putting a special charm to the recipient.

Sources: http://www.agelioforos.gr/default.asp?pid=7&ct=81&artid=13713
http://www.mbp.gr/edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=334&Itemid=133&lang=el