It is the occasion for practically every author and poet on the Hungarian scene to sit for book signings during the festivities to meet their readers. It was in 1927 that Literatura magazine editor and diehard polymath Géza Supka made his inclusive petition: "On a given day of the year (...) shall be held a book day in each town and village in the country wherein (…) the author and audience shall be brought in direct contact. On this one day each year, the arts of bookwriting and publishing should be brought into the street, only in bare shirtsleeves, in a direct and bohemian manner". The plan materialized two years later, and the Festive Book Day envisioned by Géza Supka debuted on Vörösmarty tér in 1929. The founder had followed Italian and Finnish forerunners, but while those countries keep only a memory of these events, the Hungarian book day thrived to become Book Week in a few decades, and went on to endure all the ordeals of the 20th century. Even in the worst of times, publishers and authors paraded public grounds and the Book Week had weathered the German occupation, the bombed capital and the post-war years of dictatorship too. The only time a Book Week was ever cancelled was however a worthy omission: no author or publisher would celebrate while their fellows were incarcerated in 1957. Vörösmarty tér is the traditional venue for the festivities, this central location is extended this year to Váci utca and Deák Ferenc utca to accommodate 142 pavilions where national and expatriate publishers display their freshest editions of Hungarian authors for the most part. On this venue alone, over 1000 book signings are to take place. For this Jubilee Book Week and the associated Children’s Book Days, some 360 new releases are being brought out. Two stages at the central venue will host literary shows, podium talks, book launches and readings as well as related performances by artists, musicians, bands and stage performers. A Book Week Reading Group is first organized this year so book enthusiasts may borrow Book Week editions and get an unruffled read. On Saturday June 6th, Vörösmarty tér will host Book Night in a flood of lights illuminating the authors signing books to their fans until late. As half a century’s tradition has it, the Beautiful Hungarian Book Prize for best Hungarian typography will be awarded on the first day of the festival. Among the many Book Week releases we’ll have new writing from Krisztina Tóth, László Darvasi, Endre Kukorelly, István Kemény, Zoltán András Bán and Péter Kántor. Festive Book Week, June 4-8, 2009 Website of the Festive Book Week (in Hungarian only) | 
