Authors boycott Frankfurt over right-wing publisher

A handful of authors have cancelled their appearances at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair to protest the presence of German New Right publisher Jungeuropa, reports the Bookseller.

Jungeuropa is run by Philip Stein, a member of One Percent, which is a network for members of the German New Right—an ultra–right wing nationalist movement.

Screenwriter and activist Jasmina Kuhnke, who was set to present her debut novel Black Heart, said she decided to cancel as Jungeuropa’s presence was a personal danger to her. Authors Annabell Mandeng and Nikeata Thompson also cancelled their appearances.

In a joint statement, Frankfurter Buchmesse and the German Publishers and Booksellers Association said they ‘regret that individual authors have decided not to appear at Frankfurter Buchmesse’ and that ‘their voices against racism and in support of diversity will be missed at the book fair’.

‘With our own programming and that of our partners, we send clear signals for a diverse society and take a stand in favour of interacting with others in a tolerant, respectful way. In doing so, we clearly distance ourselves from extreme positions,’ the statement reads. ‘Frankfurter Buchmesse has always been a place for discourse where questions of human rights, freedom of speech and expression, and how to respond to extremism have been addressed.’

Pictured: Jasmina Kuhnke

Category: International news