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Leipzig Book Fair: Due to Corona, it took place for the last time in 2019
Photo: Jan Woitas / picture alliance / dpa
“Open the book fair”: In an open letter that SPIEGEL has seen, around two dozen writers call on major West German publishers to show solidarity.
Signatories include Gregor Sander, Katja Oskamp, Peter Wawerzinek, Julia Schoch, Sabine Rennefanz, Thomas Lang, Christian Baron, Lea Streisand and Bov Bjerg.
"We are angry, sad, stunned," the letter says.
"The Leipzig Book Fair was forced to cancel by the major West German publishers."
The letter is addressed to the organizers of the Leipzig Book Fair, but also to the publishing groups Penguin-Random-House, Holtzbrinck and Bonnier.
According to industry reports, several large publishing groups, including Oetinger and Penguin Random House, have canceled their participation in the past few days.
However, there were also express commitments to the trade fair, such as from the Kurt Wolff Foundation, which represents the interests of independent publishers.
In their letter, the undersigned refer to the Berlinale, which is currently taking place on site with restrictions.
According to the open letter, there is also a working concept for Leipzig: "So why shouldn't the Leipzig Book Fair take place in five weeks?"
On Wednesday, the organizers reported that the Leipzig Book Fair would be canceled again this year.
The decision was justified with “many cancellations”.
Due to the imponderables of the pandemic, the exhibitors are currently not in a position to plan reliably for such a large public event.
According to the current status and according to the Saxon Corona Protection Ordinance, the organization of trade fairs would have been possible under certain conditions.
ime/dpa