A symbolic date: April 23 and the “Giants of Literature”
Every year on April 23, under the auspices of UNESCO, World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated. The date of April 23 is not accidental, since on this day in 1616 three emblematic figures of world literature died: the Spaniard Miguel de Cervantes (born in 1547), the Englishman William Shakespeare (born in 1564), and the Peruvian Garcilaso Inca de la Vega (born in 1539). It is interesting to note that April 23 also saw the birth of other important authors, such as the Frenchman Maurice Druon (1918-2009), the Russian Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977), the Colombian Manuel Mejía Vallejo (1923-1998), and the Icelandic Halldór Laxness (1902-1998), winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955. On April 23, 1981, the Catalan writer and journalist Josep Pla also died.
UNESCO and the importance of promoting written culture
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, emphasizes how this day represents a crucial opportunity to reflect on the most effective strategies for spreading written culture and ensuring everyone, regardless of age or gender, free access to reading. This goal is achieved by supporting publishing houses, bookstores, libraries, and schools, which are considered essential allies in spreading education, science, culture, and information. UNESCO’s initiative aims to encourage Member States to promote common policies in support of books, in cooperation with public and private organizations involved in reading and books.
Rio de Janeiro World Book Capital 2025
UNESCO has designated Rio de Janeiro as World Book Capital 2025. The World Book Capital carries out activities aimed at encouraging reading culture and promoting UNESCO values.
Rio is the first Portuguese-speaking city to be chosen as Capital. The Brazilian city will host activities for twelve months aimed at promoting books and reading and developing programs related to the world of books. The new Book Capital will also join an international cooperation network with the Capital cities of previous years.
In Rio de Janeiro, celebrations will begin today.
Until now, the only Italian city to have received the title was Turin, in 2006; it was also the only case of a Capital in collaboration with another city, Rome.
The book between tradition and innovation: an intangible value to protect
World Book Day is also a time to reflect on the transformations affecting the world of books, both as a physical object and in relation to the intangible values that characterize it. eBooks offer new and important opportunities to access knowledge, often at reduced costs and in different contexts. Editrice Shalom has also taken up the digital challenge, beginning to make all the books in its catalog available in e-book format. The first to be digitized were the great classics, such as “My Confessions” by Saint Augustine, Montfort’s “Treatise on True Devotion to Mary,” and “The Glories of Mary” by Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, giving everyone the opportunity to discover and read the greatest masterpieces in the history of Christianity.
However, the traditional book remains a powerful and irreplaceable technology, not threatened by digital media. In every form, the book is a valuable tool that contributes to education and the spread of culture and knowledge. It is essential to protect the variety of books, a richness that counters cultural uniformity. Bibliodiversity is a common heritage that makes the book much more than a simple material object. The book is in fact humanity’s most powerful invention for the free circulation of ideas beyond all spatial and temporal boundaries.
The pleasure of reading: a treasure to rediscover
Reading is therefore a source of pleasure that deserves to be rediscovered and cultivated at the most appropriate times of our day. However, statistics indicate a worrying downward trend in reading frequency.
The consequences of reading less are significant: impoverished language, limited concentration, a generic body of knowledge, and an increase in functional illiteracy, which marginalizes a substantial part of the population.
Not having access to reading means being unable to participate fully in social and political life, having limited judgment, and giving up a fundamental tool for emotional and intellectual development. Moreover, books represent humanity’s historical memory, making their preservation even more crucial as a tool for communication, the development of collective awareness, mutual understanding, and dialogue among peoples.
A wish for the future: opening the doors to the world of books
On April 23, our wish is that everyone can take advantage of the countless opportunities that books generously offer, if only we let them.
Which book published by Editrice Shalom has been a source of profound enrichment for you? Tell us in the comments!
