Siri Hustvedt Honors Paul Auster at Packed Lisbon Book Fair

Lisbon's Eduardo VII Park has once again been transformed into Portugal's largest bookshop for the 96th annual Book Fair. The event, which runs until June 14, 2026, has attracted tens of thousands of titles and features 350 stands with 128 participants representing approximately 900 publishing brands.

Organizers estimate that the fair has drawn an average of 850,000 visitors over its recent editions. A significant draw was the appearance of US author Siri Hustvedt, who presented the Portuguese edition of her memoir, 'Fantasmas,' reflecting on her life with the late acclaimed writer Paul Auster. This event generated one of the largest crowds of the fair.

Portuguese writer Carla Pais, launching her new novel 'A Sombra das Árvores no Inverno,' noted the diverse, multi-generational attendance, highlighting a shared passion for books. Author Pepetela also expressed optimism, stating that despite perceptions of declining readership, events like this book fair demonstrate pockets of strong literary engagement.

The fair, organized by the Portuguese Publishers and Booksellers Association (APEL), led by Miguel Pauseiro, has faced some criticism regarding exhibitor selection. Pauseiro defended APEL's choices, emphasizing the fair's role as a celebration of books and literature, while acknowledging structural limitations within the park that necessitate difficult choices for participation.