Brooklyn Book Festival | |
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Paul Auster and John Ashbery discuss their work at the 2010 festival. | |
Genre | Book fair and book reading |
Location(s) | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Country | United States |
Inaugurated | September 16, 2006 |
Founder | Marty Markowitz |
Attendance | 30–35,000 |
Website | brooklynbookfestival |
The Brooklyn Book Festival is an annual book fair held in the fall in Brooklyn, New York.[1] It was begun in 2006 by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, co-producers Liz Koch and Carolyn Greer[2] who wanted to showcase the "Brooklyn voice" in literature, as numerous authors reside in the borough.[3] In subsequent years the fair has expanded its scope and hosted many non-Brooklyn and international writers, including Joan Didion, Dennis Lehane, John Reed, Rosanne Cash, Salman Rushdie, Karl Ove Knausgård and Dave Eggers.[4]
In 2009, attendance reached 30,000.[5] Also in 2009, St. Francis College established a biannual Literary Prize worth US$50,000 to support a mid-career writer.[6] The winner of the prize is announced by a panel of authors during the Brooklyn Book Festival every other year in September.
The festival includes themed readings, panel discussions, vendors, and author signings.[7] In recent years, the Book Festival has expanded to include a Children's Day[8] and Bookends, literary-themed events[9] like book readings, parties, stand-up shows and performances in various public venues in Brooklyn.