These are noteworthy moments in the history of the Frankfurt Book Fair (16 to 20 October)
1454
The first fair is held by local booksellers, not long after Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press. It soon establishes itself as one of the most important literary events in the world.
1700s
The fair is threatened by the Catholic Reformation movement in Frankfurt, which institutionalises censorship. However, it continues to be a popular event for publishers and book agents.
1950
The fair starts awarding the annual Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, recognising authors who advocate international understanding through their works.
1980
LitProm (Society for the Promotion of African, Asian and Latin American Literature) is founded, promoting works by minority voices for translation into German.
2006
A campaign against illiteracy, called LitCam, is launched at the fair, which strives to raise awareness about education equality and integration.
2019
A new thematic area called Frankfurt Audio will be unveiled at the fair this year, celebrating everything from podcasts to smart speakers and reflecting the rise of audio media consumption.
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SEE ALSO: Great day trips to take from Frankfurt, Germany
This article was originally published in the October 2019 issue of SilverKris magazine
