Turkish market focus of London Book Fair

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Writer Ahmet Ümit says the biggest problem for Turkish writers is a lack of promotion in the international arena. AA photo

Ahead of the opening of the London Book Fair in April, where Turkey is the Market Focus partner, a reception was held by the British Council under the auspices of the British Consulate in Istanbul. Writers, publishers, interpreters and sector professionals such as İnci Aral, Müge İplikçi, Ayşe Kulin, Perihan Mağden, Barış Müstecaplıoğlu, Ayfer Tunç, Ahmet Ümit, Çiler İlhan, Halil İbrahim Özcan, Kaya Genç and Esmehan Akyol, as well as representatives of NGOs and the Turkish National Book Committee attended the reception. 

British Consul General to Istanbul Leigh Turner said that the reception was held to promote the fair, which will be held between April 15 and 17, and their goal was to introduce Turkish writers to the British community and British writers to Turks. 

He said that they would be honored to host Turkish writers and literary figures at the fair, adding, “It is the result of the collaboration between the two countries that Turkey is the Market Focus partner of the fair.” Turkish National Book Committee General Coordinator Ümüt Yaşar said that they had held talks with British media members about the fair and informed them about translation support projects and Turkish literature. British Council Turkey Director Margaret Jack said that the fair would create new partnerships between the two countries. 

‘Our books have promotion problems’ 

Turkish writer Ahmet Ümit, who attended the event, said that Turkey has a rich literary culture but the biggest problem for Turkish writers was the lack of international promotion. “This is why being the guest or focus country in the book fairs of Frankfurt, London and France is very important. The time may be limited but speaking about Turkish literature there could create an opportunity for us,” he said.