The Public Book Awards, which give readers the opportunity to share their love of reading and honour their favourite books and authors, return for the 6th consecutive year. The awards invite book lovers to express their reading preferences and vote for their favourite books of 2018.
Special Award: UK Country of Honour
The Country of Honour category is dedicated to the UK and, in collaboration with Public Bookstores, we are organising a series of events and activities around this special award on the occasion of the British Council’s 80th anniversary celebrations in Greece.
This category consists exclusively of translated works of fiction by British authors – translated from English into Greek and released in 2018 – as submitted by the Greek publishers taking part in this year’s awards.
A total of 63 books were submitted by 12 publishers. Rachel Stevens, Senior Literature Programme Manager at the British Council, and Dr James Miller, writer and Senior Lecturer in English Literature and Creative Writing at Kingston University London, have shortlisted ten titles, from which a Greek panel of judges from the world of publishing will vote for the winner.
Anthony Horowitz in Athens and Thessaloniki
Award-winning British writer Anthony Horowitz has been invited to present the Special Award: UK Country of Honour at the Public Book Awards 2019 awards ceremony, which is taking place at the Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall on 13 June 2019.
As part of the awards ceremony, there will be an exhibition of children’s book illustration, as well as series of wrap-around events, including illustration workshops for children, teenagers and comic lovers.
Horowitz will also visit the Public Bookstore in Tsimiski Street in Thessaloniki on 11 June (19.00) and the Public Bookstore in Syntagma Square in Athens on 12 June (19.00), where he will talk about what inspires him and take part in a book signing.
Drawing Words Exhibition
The Drawing Words exhibition is being organised with the support of Public on the occasion of Public Book Awards: UK Country of Honour. The opening will take place at the Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall on 13 June 2019 (19.00–21.30) as part of the Public Book Awards Ceremony. The exhibition will then be transferred to the 2nd floor of the Public Bookstore in Syntagma Square and will remain open until the end of June.
David Mackintosh, award winning illustrator and participating artist in the Drawing Words exhibition, will also be in Athens on 13 and 14 June, leading workshops and presentations for children and adults.
The Drawing Words exhibition brings together some of the most exciting children’s book illustration to come out of the UK in recent years. The exhibition is curated by award-winning artist, writer and Children’s Laureate, Lauren Child, and designed by the innovative Etcetera Studio with graphic design by Regular Practice. For further information about the exhibition, visit our dedicated Drawing Words website.