Writers Jose Luis Peixoto and Goncalo M. Tavares to headline Portugal's honorary participation in Bookfest 2025

The 18th edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair taking place at the Romexpo exhibition complex in Bucharest between May 28 - June 1 has Portugal as guest of honor, giving Romanian readers a special opportunity to rediscover Portuguese literature and explore Portugal's cultural diversity through the showcased books, authors, translators and publishers.

"'Where the Sea Ends and the Land Awaits' is the motto governing our presence at Bookfest. It's a slogan rich in significance, but also a choice that brings together the most important Portuguese writers: these are the words that end the novel 'The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis' by José Saramago, 1998 laureate of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Ricardo Reis is, however, also one of the heteronyms of Fernando Pessoa, one of the most brilliant Portuguese writers. Moreover, it is a paraphrase by José Saramago, through Pessoa, from 'The Lusiads' by Luis Vaz de Camoes, Portugal's most important literary personality whose living era is the foundation for the Portuguese identity and who is the key figure we celebrate on our National Day, on June 10, " Portuguese ambassador in Bucharest Paulo Cunha Alves told a press conference dedicated to the upcoming cultural event.

"When, at the end of last year, we received the invitation of the Romanian Publishers Association to take advantage of this opportunity, we were extraordinarily happy to accept this challenge that is a unique occasion to present Portugal's substantial and rich literary tradition," the ambassador declared.

In his turn, Dan Croitoru, representative of the Romanian Publishers Association, emphasized how welcome Portugal's presence at Bookfest is.

"It was high time for Portuguese literature, for the Portuguese culture in general to be the guest of honor at Bookfest," he said, noting that this will be an occasion for the readers to come into contact with a literature "infused with nostalgia - 'saudade' - but also with lucidity, with bitter satire."

The exponents of this type of Portuguese literature, he said, "fought tirelessly against obscurantism, against oppressive religion, against absolutism and dictatorship" and practiced a "literature in search of freedom."

"In the difficult times we are living, the presence of Portugal and Portuguese culture at the 18th edition of Bookfest will be, from my point of view, a symbol of freedom," he stressed.

Two of the Book Fair's special guests, Jose Luis Peixoto and Goncalo M. Tavares, are laureates of the prestigious Jose Saramago Prize.

Jose Luis Peixoto, who has been translated into over 30 languages and is considered one of the most important voices in Portuguese literature today, will sign autographs for the readers on the latest translation of his emotional novel Galveias, a quintessence of Portuguese identity. The book is in preparation at Trei Publishing House, as part of the 'Anansi. World Fiction' collection, translated by Simina Popa.

Goncalo M. Tavares, whom fellow writer Jose Saramago found worthy of winning the Nobel Prize in Literature one day, will also meet Romanian readers at this year's edition of Bookfest. His books have been successfully translated by several publishing houses both in Romania and in the Republic of Moldova (Casa Cartii de Stiinta, Humanitas Fiction, Cartier, Univers, Allfa).

Also on the list of Portuguese guests who will grace the Bucharest event is Mafalda Milhoes, one of the most talented Portuguese book illustrators, also an author, publisher and promoter of reading.

A unique editorial project will be rolled out at Bookfest 2025: an anthology of contemporary Portuguese short stories titled 'Waves, Dunes, Open Houses' (coordinator: Ana Rita Reis, Casa Cartii de Stiinta Publishing House), put out with the support of the Camoes Institute. The volume aims to bring to the Romanian audience sixteen contemporary authors who, in addition to other literary genres approached, have distinguished themselves in short story penmanship. The selection includes writers from different generations, beginning with well-known authors to emerging talents.