Cuba’s International Book Fair exhibits country’s love of literature

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By Michael Voss

Cuba’s annual International Book Fair is underway in Havana. In many countries, book festivals are for the publishers. In Cuba, it’s all about the book-lover. The fair attracts tens of thousands of avid readers.

CGTN’s Michael Voss reports on how this event has become Cuba’s most important cultural festival of the year.

The Havana International Book Fair is held in a sprawling colonial era fortress overlooking Havana, its narrow passageways packed with people eager to see what’s for sale.

Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world and locally published books are heavily subsidized. However, there aren’t that many bookshops and selection is limited. This annual fair is an opportunity for people to broaden their horizons and stock up on books for the rest of the year.