Porto Book Fair honours Leonor de Almeida and Maria de Sousa

Women's literature is the trade mark of this year's Porto Book Fair, whose motto is "Alegria para o fim do mundo" ["Joy to the end of the world", free translation], borrowed from the book by Andreia C. Faria.

This year, amid a pandemic, Porto Book Fair 7th edition readjusted and features several novelties; so, for the first time, the physical space extends to Casa do Roseiral, with concerts by the sunset, and with Super Bock Arena - Pavilhão Rosa Mota hosting a Cycle of Debates and a special session by Quintas de Leitura.

This edition is about literature written by women and thus the tribute is to poet Leonor de Almeida, who remains somewhat a mystery to the larger audience, and who will have her name inscribed in the Avenida das Tílias (aka Linden Avenue), and also the immunologist and poet, as well, Maria de Sousa, who recently passed away due to Covid-19.

Today, organisers, press and invitees drifted around the Avenida das Tílias, earphones on, and each step guided by a feminine utterance, which slowly narrated the programming that values the Portuguese language, poets, writers and artists, with a focus on those who work in Porto or from the city.

Under the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and exit to Porto Book Fair will be monitored, up to a limit of 3.500 people.

The new edition will take to the gardens of Palácio de Cristal, from 28th August to 13th September and the leitmotif is "Alegria para o fim do mundo", words borrowed from an in-house writer that focus on the importance of literature written by women.

Leonor de Almeida is the honoured poet of this 2020 edition and Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira summed up the broad outline programme of Porto Book Fair. Rui Moreira affirmed that this is the opportunity to fairly "try and rediscover a poet that was somewhat left aside the Portuguese literary scene".

The Mayor of Porto also mentioned the research work by Cláudia Clemente on the biography of this poet born in Porto, in 1909, who authored four books of poems, released between 1947 and 1960, all sold out, and who is present in the erotic and satirical anthology by Natália Correia.

Also righteous is the tribute to Maria de Sousa, who "besides being an extraordinary immunologist and scientist, also left a legacy in poetry", Rui Moreira enhanced.

Broader outline programme

Talks, lessons, abundant word, radio, cinema, concerts, workshops and shows are the starting points to a [for sure] different edition but one that brings novelty and celebrates books as ever.

Everyone must agree that the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal are the idyllic setting in which to enjoy all things culture, be it books, concerts, talks or simply drifting by the book stalls and publishing houses represented in the enclosure.

This year, the Book Fair extends to the beautiful Casa do Roseiral, the official residence of the Mayor of Porto, named that way due to the rose beds that lie around the place, and stage to the "Concertos de Bolso", programmed by Maus Hábitos. The goal is to bring together several generations of music and to deliver the city's music scene.

Some of the headliners are Baleia, Baleia, Baleia, Angélica Salvi or Peixe, who will go on stage every day.

The Book Fair main focus this year, especially, was to diversify spaces and to present simultaneous activities, "to boost commercial activity, as well, given that it has been hit hard amid the ongoing health crisis", as emphasized by Rui Moreira.

There are 119 stalls, representing 80 entities, from booksellers, publishing houses, used bookstores, distributors and both public and private entities. All Covid-19 control measures are in place, namely the provision of hand sanitizer and disinfectant, and the Porto Firefighters will ensure frequent special cleanliness of the enclosure.

The programme is coordinated by Nuno Faria, director of the Museu da Cidade, and assisted by a vast programming staff, including João Gesta, of the Quintas de Leitura.

Super Bock Arena - Pavilhão Rosa Mota will host a special edition of the poetry cycle "Noutros programas de encontro e poesia" (aka "Other Meeting Programmes and Poetry", free translation), and give voice to 30 women poets, "glittering and unsubmissive", expression borrowed from Filipa Leal, "Senhor, Enche o Meu Quarto de Alto Mar", which is the theme of the session.

Guilherme Blanc, Contemporary Art and Cinema diretor of Ágora, developed the cinema cycle, which will be presented at the auditorium at the Almeida Garrett Library and is inspired by an anthology of the work by Lynn Hershman. Over five sessions, audiences (limited to the space predefined to each room) will get to know the work of the artists who anticipated visualties and concepts that are part of the current artistic practices.

Curators Anabela Mota Ribeiro and José Eduardo Agualusa bring back the Lessons and Debates programme, namely on heroines as Bovary or Karenina, and guests Gonçalo M. Tavares, Richard Zimler or Sobrinho Simões, for lessons and debates respectively.

During the event, two editions will be released; the first one is on the poetry by Leonor de Almeida, and the second one marks the bicentennial of the Liberal Revolution in Porto.

Porto City Hall invested circa 125 thousand euros, 25 thousand euros more than last year.

Other highlights of this year Porto Book Fair include the Porta-Jazz ao relento concerts, the ecos da Biblioteca Sonora, radio with live transmissions, two in-house poets, youth activities and a closing concert by Mário Laginha and Pedro Burmester.