The Montreal Book Fair, presented by Radio-Canada, revealed on Wednesday the first authors who will take part in its 47th edition. The American Brigid Kemmerer and the French Mélissa Da Costa will join well-known Quebec writers such as Kev Lambert, Marie Laberge and Dominique Fortier.
Prolific French author Franck Thilliez, specializing in detective novels and thrillers, will also be there, as will local talents Sébastien Dulude, Mélodie Joseph and Jean-Philippe Pleau. Children’s literature will also be in the spotlight with the participation of Cara Carmina, Alex A., Timothée de Fombelle and Renée Wilkin.
The event will take place in three parts: the Show at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, which will be held from November 27 to December 1, as well as the Show in the city and the Online Show, which will begin on November 15.
A first Janette-Bertrand Literary Prize
The full program of the event will be revealed in the coming weeks, but several highlights are already to be expected, notably the presentation on November 27 of the first Janette-Bertrand Literary Prize, which aims to recognize the role of literature in the issues of society such as gender equality or the fight against gender-based violence.
Ten books are in the running for the award and its $5,000 grant, including File a complaint of Léa Clermont-Dion, The unsightly by Claudia Larochelle and Self-portrait of another by Élise Turcotte. The prize, awarded by a jury chaired by Pauline Marois, will be presented in the presence of Janette Bertrand, as part of the celebrations surrounding its centenary.
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Janette Bertrand (center) discovered the mural in tribute to her on September 26, created by Laurent Gascon at the corner of Ontario and Montgomery streets in Montreal.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Louis-Philippe Ouimet
Among the kiosks already announced, we can highlight the return of the Zines Space, dedicated to zines and micropublishing, and a kiosk dedicated to Korean literature, where it will be possible to learn the basics of the alphabet of the language Korean, hangul.
Indigenous literature will also be in the spotlight in the Espace I read indigenous!, which will offer meetings with authors as well as discussions on themes and issues associated with Indigenous literature.
There will always be culture recorded in front of an audience
Radio-Canada will actively participate in the 47th edition of the Book Fair by offering several activities and special events in the Espace Radio-Canada. On Friday, November 29, from 1:30 p.m., the public will be able to attend the live recording of the radio show There will always be culture.
Host Émilie Perreault will award for the first time the Radio-Canada Caroline Dawson literary prize, which aims to honor the Quebec writer and sociologist, who died of bone cancer on May 19, at the age of 44.
The broadcasts Tell me what you read et The human race will also be recorded on site.
Two for one for the people of Pointe-aux-Trembles
After Saint-Michel (2019), Montréal-Nord (2022) and Côte-des-Neiges (2023), it is the turn of the borough of Rivières-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles to be invited to the Salon from the Montreal book. This will be the ideal opportunity to discover the talent emanating from this district which is celebrating its 350th anniversary.
To mark the occasion, the Book Fair is offering an exclusive promotion to residents of the borough, who will be able to benefit from a two-for-one deal when purchasing tickets on site. Regular ticketing (New window) will be put online on October 16.
