Ten publishers will represent Luxembourg at the world’s largest book fair in Frankfurt. This year’s theme will put a spotlight on the critical role of translations, an area where Luxembourg already shines with €50,000 budgeted for translation support in 2022.

One’s ability to speak several languages is “no big deal” in Luxembourg. In fact, most Luxembourgers can code-switch fluently between four languages, making its literary scene also quite peculiar. Luxembourgish, French and German are the most popular languages among authors, although some languages tend to be famous for certain genres–for example, novels in Luxembourgish, poetry published in French and non-fiction books in German, explains Ian De Toffoli from Hydre Éditions.

Come 19 to 23 October, 10 Luxembourg book publishers will be present at the 74th Frankfurt Book Fair, where thousands of exhibitors from over 65 countries are expected. These include Black Fountain Press, capybarabooks, Editions Guy Binsfeld, Editions Schortgen, Ernster Editions, Hydre Éditions, KiWi E.L.G, Kremart Edition, PassaParola Editions, and PersPektiv Editions.

There will be 37 publications by around 18 authors in five original languages–Luxembourgish, German, English, French, Italian–placed on the “Books from Luxembourg” booth (G26) located at Hall 3.1.

Each year, publishers who show interest in participating in the fair are selected following a call. Last year, 10 Luxembourg publishers also represented the grand duchy at the fair, with culture minister Sam TansonSam Tanson (déi Gréng) officially opening the booth.

“Participation always depends on the interest of the publishers …. next year there might even be more publishers who will participate,” explains Kultur|lx project manager in literature and publishing Brian Bailey, whose department is also in charge of organising Luxembourg’s representation at the fair.