Book Fair to be Extended 11 Days

The 11th International Book Fair of Santo Domingo 2008 will be extended for 11 more days in response to a request by schools, universities and book stores, Book Fair organizers announced.

José Rafael Lantigua, Minister of Culture, announced the extension of the Book Fair with great satisfaction as he noted that the success of the book fair over these past two weeks was the basis for the decision to extend it.

Nevertheless, the official closing act, scheduled for Sunday May 4, has not been postponed. The act, presided over by President Leonel Fernández, will include the presentation of the Book Fair prizes.

José Rafael Lantigua, Minister of Culture, announced the extension of the Book Fair with great satisfaction as he noted that the success of the book fair over these past two weeks was the basis for the decision to extend it.

Lantigua confirmed the news when he was leaving the National Palace with Nobel Prize winner for literature, Derek Walcott and Pulitzer winner Junot Díaz, both invited guests and the Book Fair. The two writers had been in a private meeting with President Leonel Fernández. According to the newspaper, Diario Libre, Walcott was very impressed with President Fernández. The newspaper quoted Walcott as saying, “He’s a great man!” Impressed with the relaxed and intellectual atmosphere of the meeting in which they discussed literature, Junot Díaz’s work and details about the country, Walcott reiterated “He’s a great man!”

The same newspaper also reported that the Metro will continue to run throughout the prolongation of the Book Fair as will the artistic and cultural activities that have been going on up until now in the various pavilions.

The success of book sales has been one of the most notable results of the past two weeks that have attracted thousands of students to the Book Fair. Many people had the added stimulus of arriving to the Fair on the new Metro which can be taken directly to Culture Plaza, the site of the Book Fair.