Global Arab Network | UAE: French Culture to Shine at Abu Dhabi Book Fair

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UAE: French Culture to Shine at Abu Dhabi Book Fair

Wednesday, 02 February 2011 20:42

UAE (Dubai) - Throughout history France has played a pivotal role in shaping international cultural tastes – from literature and art to food, fashion and film. France as a nation is never far from the spotlight and it will be taking centre stage again as the Cultural Focus of this year’s Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. The six-day event will run from 15 – 20 March at the city’s National Exhibition Centre.

The Fair’s organisers have attracted some of France’s leading cultural figures, who through intellectual debate, educational activities and public events will showcase what French culture represents today across the publishing industry, art and life.
"Over the past few years France has been steadily increasing its cultural presence in the UAE, not least with the building of Le Louvre Abu Dhabi," says Monika Krauss, General Manager of Kitab. "We’re proud to welcome a distinguished line-up of French authors, illustrators and representatives to the Fair who can showcase the exciting cultural projects which are bringing the UAE and France closer together."
Highlights include:

Wednesday 16, March
 Discussion: “Strom…The Thrills of a Museum”. Speakers: Emmanuelle and Benoît de Saint-Chamas – authors and Knights in the French of the French Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier de l’Order des Arts et des Lettres) – will discuss their mystery novel set in Le Louvre, Paris – a place filled with magic and wonder. Benoit assists the President of Le Louvre with international affairs and Emmanuelle is a conference lecturer at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris.
11: 45 – 12:30 hours

 Discussion: “Le Château de Versailles – A Palace and a Book”. Speakers: Pierre Arizzoli-Cleméntel – author of Versailles and ex-Director General of the Château de Versailles, France - and his publisher François de Waresquiel – President of Cittadelles & Mazenod, will discuss this magnificent large-format book on one of the world’s most famous royal palaces. Host: Philip Jodidio, Editor-In-Chief of the most widely distributed French art journal Connaissance des Arts from 1980 to 2002. He is also a Knight of the French Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier de l’Order des Arts et des Lettres).
18:00 – 19:00 hours

 Discussion: “Le Louvre Abu Dhabi: A Vision for the Future.” What was the reasoning behind the creation of the Louvre Abu Dhabi? Prestigious local and international guests will explore its scientific programmes, architecture and publishing plans. Host: Philip Jodidio, Editor-In-Chief of the most widely distributed French art journal Connaissance des Arts from 1980 to 2002. He is also a Knight of the French Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier de l’Order des Arts et des Lettres).
18:00 – 19:00 hours

 Meet Patrick Chamoiseau – the award-winning novelist, playwright and essayist. The Martinique born author, whose novel Texaco won the 1992 Prix Goncourt and was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, often has been inspired to write about the socio-political and literary status of French Creole and the affirmation of Martinican cultural identity. Similar issues are addressed in Chamoiseau's autobiographical trilogy Une enfance créole as well as in Chronique des sept misères (Chronicle of Seven Miseries, 1986) and Solibo magnifique (Magnificent Solibo, 1988).
17:00 – 18:00 hours

 Meet the Illustrator: Nicole Lambert - the highly celebrated French artist and publisher who, in the 1980s, produced the long-running comic strip series Les Triplés for the magazine Madame Figaro.
11:15 – 12:00 hours

 Book-signing and Conversation with: Kénizé Mourad – the French journalist and author of the international best selling novel, De la part de la princesse morte (Regards from the Dead Princess). Born in Paris in 1940, Mourad is the daughter of an Indian rajah, and the great granddaughter of the Ottoman Sultan Mourad VI. The novel De la part de la princesse morte, charting her family’s history. has been translated into more than 30 languages.
13:15 – 14:15 hours

Saturday 19 March
 Book-signing and Conversation with: Professor Breyten Breytenbach – a French citizen since 1982 and the finest living poet of the Afrikaans language. The distinguished painter and writer of more than 30 books of poetry, was originally from South Africa. A committed opponent of the apartheid, he established the resistance group ‘Okhela’ and from 1975-82 was held political prisoner in South Africa. His most renowned non-fiction work is his memoir of his captivity – The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist (1983). Breytenbach’s most recent poetry collection is Lady One.
19:30 – 20:30 hours

Sunday 20 March
 Presentation: “The Choice of Fiction”. Speaker: Vincent Delecroix, the acclaimed French author, who won the 2008 Grand Prix de Littérature de l’Académie Français for his work Tombeau d’Achille.
18:15 – 19:15 hours.

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