Sancti Spiritus Readies for 2012 International Book Fair

On the eve of the 21st edition of the 2012’s International Book Fair in Sancti Spiritus, to take place from February 22nd to 26th, Cuba’s 4^th founded village prepares facilities and programs to welcome the most important literary phenomenon celebrated in the island.

By Elizabeth Borrego*

The Village of the Holy Spirit (ancient name) spares no effort to create spaces and activities to salute the new version of this relevant event in Cuba. Lectures, art expositions, book presentations, children participation, films projections and interchanges through the web intend to homage the Caribbean countries.

The book sell venues increase to 13 in the 2012 edition of the International Book Fair, distributed in Serafin Sanchez Square, the boulevard, and in some other recurrent sites such as the stores La Principal (The Principal) and El Paraiso Infantil (Child Paradise), the latter being host to the commercialization of texts for the children. The Chess Academy will be home to scientific and technical literature and Teatro Principal (Sancti Spiritus main theater) and Julio Antonio Mella Bookstore will assume the sell of works.

The Provincial Library Ruben Martinez Villena will work as a lecture and round table hall and Conrado Benitez Cinema as a special radio station for the Book Fair, in this occasion dedicated to Zoila Lapique and Ambrosio Fornet.

Among the most relevant figures to visit Sancti Spiritus, in central Cuba, are Senel Paz, local writer reediting his tale El lobo, el bosque y el hombre nuevo (The Wolf, the forest and the new man) which gave birth to the renowned Cuban film Fresa and Chocolate, and Jamaican Keith Ellis, professor and researcher settled in Canada.

*Journalism Student