World Book Fair draws to a close, leaving visitors wishing for more

Anshita Mehra

New Delhi, February 18

The curtains came down on the New Delhi World Book Fair 2024, leaving behind a rich tapestry of literary experiences and cultural discoveries for attendees to cherish. Against the backdrop of bustling aisles and vibrant displays, visitors were immersed in a world of captivating narratives and bestselling titles from renowned publishing houses.

literary treasures

• From the timeless magic of Harry Potter to gripping crime thrillers and thought-provoking non-fiction, the fair showcased a diverse range of literary treasures that captured the imagination of readers from all walks of life.
• Penguin carry bags were a common sight among fair attendees, underscoring the popularity of their offerings.
• Bloomsbury also attracted a large number of visitors with its line-up of bestselling books.
• Why Bharat Matters by S Jaishankar emerged as a crowd favourite.

From the timeless magic of Harry Potter to gripping crime thrillers and thought-provoking non-fiction, the fair showcased a diverse range of literary treasures that captured the imagination of readers from all walks of life.

Riti, Vice-President of Product and Marketing at Hachette Publications, shared insights into the publisher’s showcase, stating, “We featured an autobiography of Matthew Perry alongside a selection of crime and thriller books. These titles garnered significant attention from attendees, adding to the allure of our offerings.”

AK Singh, manager at Rupa Publications, highlighted the titles that captured readers’ imaginations, stating, “Why Bharat Matters by S Jaishankar emerged as a crowd favourite, along with our series of 50 short stories, covering various themes like love, horror, comedy and crime. Additionally, popular titles like Anger Management and works by Shashi Tharoor contributed to our success at the fair.”

Penguin, a renowned publishing house, boasted several bestsellers that quickly sold out. Among these were Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent, Samsara by Saksham Garg and What You Are Looking for Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama. Penguin carry bags were a common sight among fair attendees, underscoring the popularity of their offerings.

Bloomsbury also attracted a large number of visitors with its line-up of bestselling books. Krishna Naroor, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, highlighted the enduring popularity of the Harry Potter series, stating, “The special houses editions featuring Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were particularly sought after. Additionally, series by Sarah J Maas and Cixin Liu gained attraction, along with the unexpected success of Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum.

Ditsha, marketing officer at Pan Macmillan, shared insights into the publisher’s standout titles, stating, “A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara and the Tales from the Café series were among the top performers. Titles like The Women by Kristin Hannah and All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami also resonated well with attendees.” Ditsha expressed personal admiration for A Little Life, which sold out before the conclusion of the fair, reflecting its widespread appeal among attendees.