A “Giddy Gratitude” at Frankfurt Book Fair

The world’s largest publishing conference returned to the famous Frankfurter Messe this week.

Publishers, editors, agents, and authors from across the globe once again have traveled in mid-October to Frankfurt, Germany for the annual Frankfurt Book Fair. The 2022 multi-hall show is the first fully in-person, post-pandemic show since 2019.

“As my colleague John Maher reported, despite a list of global troubles—the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, protests in Iran, worldwide supply chain issues and skyrocketing inflation—the prevailing mood at Frankfurt is a giddy gratitude,” says Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.

“Everyone is happy see old friends and international colleagues in person and to discuss deals over a table instead of a screen,” he tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally.

“The happy mood appears to be applying more to the North Americans than the Europeans, perhaps owing to the strength of the American dollar against the Euro,” Albanese adds. “Europe is in a tenuous state at the moment; the UK in a political meltdown; and of course, there is war on the continent in Ukraine.”

Every Friday, CCC’s “Velocity of Content” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.