The Italian Publishers Association (AIE) has announced programming for its 23rd annual small and medium-sized independent publishers' fair, Più libri più liberi (More Books, More Freedom), scheduled for December 4-8 at Rome's La Nuvola convention center.
For Italian independent publishers, the December fair is their largest annual event, offering a platform for smaller houses to showcase their catalogs as the holidays approach. The event maintains its focus on small and medium-sized publishers while incorporating programming that addresses broader industry concerns.
This year's theme, "The Measure of the World," commemorates the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death. "If reading means exploring new territories and thoughts, books become the geographic map," Chiara Valerio, the fair's program curator, said. Valerio will host a six-part podcast series exploring different units of measurement—from meters to light years—as they relate to publishing and literature.
The fair marks several significant debuts, including the first appearance by Spanish crime writer Alicia Giménez-Bartlett, who will discuss her latest work La donna che fugge (The Woman Who Runs) and themes of gender discrimination in her writing. Award-winning journalist Patrick Winn, recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and multiple Human Rights Press Awards from Amnesty International, will discuss his book Narcotopia in conversation with Roberto Saviano.
A dedicated science track features collaboration with the Scienza e Virgola Festival. One notable session, moderated by author Paolo Giordano and featuring mathematician Paolo Zellini and poet Valerio Magrelli, will explore concepts of infinity across disciplines. The program also includes a live-streamed conference connecting with Italian research stations in both the Arctic and Antarctica.
The fair will conclude with a tribute to the late author Michela Murgia, featuring presentations on various aspects of her work. Writer Marcello Fois will discuss Murgia's connection to Sardinia, while editorial director Paola Gallo will address her publishing legacy. Actor Lorenzo Terenzi will present a previously unpublished text by Murgia.
The event is supported by a wide variety of cultural and governmental organizations, including Italy's Ministry of Culture, the Lazio Region, and Rome's municipal government. The fair's visual identity this year features artwork by Antonio Pronostico, known for his surrealist visual metaphors.
