April 23 is a symbolic date for world literature and for the foundation of the World Book and Copyright Day. The World Book and Copyright Day is part of the UNESCO calendar. With the celebration of this day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright. The day was celebrated for the first time in 1995. For more information about that and the involvement of Veliko Tarnovo keep reading.
April 23 is a special date because on that day, Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died in 1616. This is the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Morris Druon, Halldor Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov. This justifies the choice of the UNESCO General Conference of this date on which the whole world should pay tribute to their books and authors, encouraging everyone, and especially young people, to discover the enjoyment of reading. The idea of this holiday originated in Catalonia, where a book was traditionally given as a gift on April 23, the day of St. George the Victorious. In 2017, Conakry was chosen for World capital of the book. The World Capital of the Book title is provided by UNESCO for the first time in 2001 in Madrid, and after that each year another world city receives the title.
And if you are wondering what that has got to do with Veliko Tarnovo, well Veliko Tarnovo will apply for World Capital of the Book for 2021. The proposal was developed by experts in the Tarnovo administration and the director of the Regional Library Ivan Aleksandrov. The deadline for submitting the documents is 2 May, so the proposal will be voted on at the upcoming session of the City Council. The results of the selection will be announced on July 1 this year. The city, which has been selected as the World Capital of the Book, is committed to promoting books and implementing a program of different events for a period of one year.
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