Authors and books at the opera

The 5^e edition of the Tours Book Fair, will bring together thirty-one authors in the sumptuous setting of the Grand Théâtre. An event in the Touraine calendar which attracted 5,000 visitors last year.

Since the creation of this show, more than 150 national authors have been received by the Livres en Loire association.

Among the expected authors, sales champions like Philippe Besson, or Laure Manel, who has exceeded one million copies sold in large format and in paperback. But also legendary stars like the former Saint-Etienne footballer Dominique Rocheteau, who will sign his book Foot sentimental.

Anne Gosciny, who manages the work of her illustrious father René Goscinny (Asterix, Lucky Luke, Iznogoud, Little Nicholas…), will present two works, one for adults, the other for children.

Best-selling authors and a football legend

Will also be present at the Tours Opera the former principal dancer Aurélie Dupont, the journalist Edwige Coupez, Lorraine Fouchet, godmother of the Livres en Loire association, Thibault de Montaigu, Laurent Decaux and of course Agnès Laurent, who will have received the Honoré de Balzac Prize 2024 the day before at the Château de la Tortinière in Veigné, for his novel One beautiful daypublished by Récamier editions.

The guest of honor for this edition is Aurélie Valognes, who regularly appears in the top 10 for book sales in France.

If the show is a continuous day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., authors having lunch between noon and 2 p.m. will not sign signings during this time. But the association’s 55 volunteers will be there to welcome the public.

In parallel with the signing session, literary meetings will take place on the opera stage. They are hosted by literary journalist Philippe Chauveau. The sets change every half hour with three to four authors per set. The passage times can be consulted on the association’s website.

This 5^e edition of the show, like the previous ones is intended “qualitative and popular in this emblematic place of the arts in the heart of the City of Tours, land of famous writers”insists the president of Livres en Loire, Monique Lefaucheur. 

Promoting access to culture

A reading workshop space for children will be reserved for the youngest, for a time of reading or discovery of books, to allow parents and grandparents to meet and talk quietly with the authors. A book will be given to each child.

Activities are announced in the peristyle of the Grand theater and in the alcoves of the grand staircase. In particular “The cries of writing”, which makes visitors play with words around correspondence and memories. Another activity proposed, the “sound libraries” of the Donneurs de voix association.

The philosophy of sound libraries is to promote access to culture and information for all, particularly for people with sensory, physical or cognitive disabilities that prevent them from reading.

Tours Book Fair, Saturday November 16, at the Grand Théâtre, rue de la Scellerie, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Free entry. First literary meeting on the opera stage at 11:30 a.m., break from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and from 2 p.m., every half hour until 6 p.m.