VENEZUELA, the country featured as the guest of honor at the 15th Havana Book Fair to take place in the San Carlos de la Cabaña fortress, is presenting Cuban readers with 1,200 titles (plus one million copies) by classic and contemporary authors.

The 60-some featured publishing houses, according to Adán Chávez, Venezuelan ambassador in Cuba, are really prepared to offer the best from their catalogs. "In gratitude for the courtesy shown by dedicating this Fair to us, we have worked intensely to rise to the invitation and the prestige of this event."

"We are assuming an enormous commitment, and at the same time," the diplomat added, "basing ourselves on the fundamental idea that our participation in such a high-level event is one more way of showing the world how Venezuela and Cuba are advancing every day on their integration agreement in the cultural field, which is so important for the development of the peoples.

The one million copies, Adán Chávez explained, include 30,000 of an abbreviated version of Don Quixote for free distribution, together with the Biblioteca temática de Autores Venezolanos (Thematic Library of Venezuelan Authors, 40 stories, essays, theatrical pieces and poetry).

Venezuelans also had the idea of publishing a "passport," with a poem, popular sayings and photos, 600,000 of which will be given away to Cubans attending the Fair, and which, according to the ambassador "is an example of popular culture, popular sayings that express important truths and important lessons, and the feelings of the people."

During the Fair (which is to be extended to another 34 Cuban cities until March 5), foreign publishers (in this case 64 exhibitors are representing more than 500) sell their books in convertible currency (the 1,400 titles by Cuban publishers are sold in Cuban pesos).

That’s what makes it so gratifying that Bolivarian Venezuelan has decided that its books (with authors like Edmundo Aray, Luis Orrego Luco, Juan de la Rosa, Miguel Cané, José Bracho) may be purchased by Cuban readers in their national currency. During a previous press conference, Adán Chávez announced that books that are not sold will be donated to Cuba.

In addition to visiting the Venezuelan pavilion (five halls) in La Cabaña’s Plaza de San Francisco, Cubans who are looking for Venezuelan literature are also going to local bookstores, because Cuban publishers also prepared for the tribute to Venezuela.

Some examples: Cuba y Venezuela. Reflexiones y debates (Cuba and Venezuela. Reflections and Debates), by Germán Sánchez (José Martí-Verde Olivo publishers); Algunas fatigas y fulgores (Hardships and Brilliance) Farruco Sesto (Santiago); Doña Bárbara , Rómulo Gallegos, Tierras que me oyeron (Lands that Heard Me), Andrés Eloy Blanco, and El imperio contracultural (The Countercultural Empire), Luis Britto García (Arte y Literatura); Documentos, Simón Bolívar (Casa de las Américas); Déme Venezuela en que servirla (Show Me Venezuela, How To Serve You), José Martí (Centro de Estudios Martianos).

Venezuelan writers present at the Fair, led by Minister of Culture Farruco Sesto, include authors Carlos Nogueras, Humberto Mata, Luis Britto, Laura Antillano and Stefanía Mosca; poets Tarek William and William Osuna, and filmmaker and poet Edmundo Aray, who will actively participate in the Culture in Defense of Humanity conferences, the Tribu de la Poesía (Poetry Tribe) poetry readings, and panel discussions on culture, national identity and spirituality, and Miranda, Bolívar and Martí: the historical foundations of Latin American integration.

Not forgotten was the deep-rooted relationship between two greats of Cuban and world literature, Nicolás Guillén and Alejo Carpentier, with discussion panels and the publication of their work. Several titles by Carpentier are being presented by CERLAG: Visión de América (Vision of America), The Kingdom of this World, The Lost Steps and Explosion in a Cathedral.

The Venezuelan delegation likewise has its space at the Tesoro de Papel (Paper Treasure) Children’s Pavilion in the Arts Bazaar – a new feature of this 15th edition of the Fair, spanning the areas of the Los Tres Reyes del Morro – with several visual arts exhibitions. It is also present in the artistic program, particularly the series dedicated to the films of Edmundo Aray and a recital by the National Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Venezuelan Yuri Hunt.