The arts, by the book

Authors who deal in local topics will appear beside writers from Iceland at the book fair

Some of the 500,000 books on display at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Mona Al-Marzooqi / The National

With the 25th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair beginning today, the capital is going into literary mode for the next week. More than 500,000 titles from 1,025 exhibitors will be on display at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, with the books brought to life by a series of seminars and lectures by a range of authors.

Those who attend the fair will be entertained by presentations from 13 authors from Iceland, the country of honour for this year’s book fair. Johan Tell, Swedish author of 100 Ways to Save the World, will not just talk about his eco-activism but will also explain how he is offsetting the environmental impact of his flight to the UAE by paying for trees to be planted in Africa.

Local literary topics will also be covered, with Emirati folk stories cited in children’s books by long-term Abu Dhabi resident, Iwona Taida Drózd.