Bookfest Chisinau opens ninth edition with 30,000 titles
The ninth edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair opened in Chisinau on Wednesday, showcasing over 30,000 titles brought by 30 publishing houses from both the Republic of Moldova and Romania.
The event, hosted primarily at the Mediacor digital media center on the campus of Moldova State University, will run through Sunday, September 6, offering free admission to visitors alongside public debates and book presentations.
Broad literary selection and promotional pricing
For readers across the capital, the fair offers access to newly published volumes, specialized literature, and discounted editions that are rarely available in local commercial bookstores.
Visitors praised the event for its accessibility and wide thematic variety. “I come here every year because I can find discounted books as well as special editions that are hard to track down elsewhere,” said one attendee.
Publishers and authors defend reading culture
Writers and publishing directors from both banks of the Prut River emphasized the cultural significance of the fair, describing robust public attendance as a reassuring indicator in the face of broader social disengagement from reading.
“It is an event with major resonance that enjoys genuine interest in Chisinau—very positive signs in an era where cultural decline takes a heavy toll,” said Romanian writer Adrian Dinu Rachieru.
“We want readers to come and we want to sell good books, even against discouraging statistics suggesting that reading audiences are shrinking,” noted Moldovan publisher and author Iulian Ciocan.
Historical memory and totalitarian studies
A notable focus of this year's fair is historical documentation, particularly volumes examining Soviet deportations, the post-war famine, and ideological terror in the region.
Among the releases showcased is a curriculum textbook titled The Communist Totalitarian Regime, developed for secondary school students in grades 9 through 12.
“Year after year, the culture of historical memory receives increased attention from both authorities and authors,” said Alexandru Postica, president of the Association of Former Deportees and Political Detainees (AFDDP). “I encourage everyone to purchase these books as an expression of solidarity with those who suffered.”
The fair's schedule continues on Thursday with additional panel discussions and book launches featuring prominent authors and historians from Romania and Moldova.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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