HA NOI — Book lovers can view many recently released books in various fields and queue up for authors' autographs at a summer book fair opens from today in Ha Noi.

Nha Nam Culture and Communications Company has organised the book fair with the aim of creating a useful and attractive playground for book lovers, especially children during the summer holiday.

The highlight of the fair is the launch of many new books translated from foreign literature such as Sophie's Misfortunes by Countess De Segur (printed for the first time in 1858), The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1774) and Oksa Pollock: The Last Hope by Anne Plichota and Cendrine Wolf, the book is praised as Harry Potter in French.

Thomas Bass, author of Spy Z21, will launch his book on General Pham Xuan An and exchange with readers tomorrow evening.

The American writer was born in 1951. He set out to write the story of An's remarkable career for The New Yorker; fresh revelations arrived daily during their freewheeling conversations, which began in 1992.

An (1927-2006) was a brilliant journalist and an even better spy. He ranks as one of the pre-eminent spies of the twentieth century.

The event also features many newly published books of renowned Vietnamese authors who will present their books and sign for readers during the book fair.

Critics and writers will take part in a workshop on a collection of classic literary books titled Danh Tac Viet Nam (Vietnamese Famous Works), which has been republished recently.

Visitors will have the opportunity to buy books at discounted price. Vouchers and other promotions will be available.

The book fair at the same time will entertain readers and visitors through activities such as games for children, lucky draw and workshops on how to take care of children and understand them.

The book fair will run until Sunday at the Pupils and Students' Cultural House, 37 Tran Binh Trong Street.

On the occasion, Nha Nam Company also co-organises a book talk on Patrick Modiano at L'espace, 24 Trang Tien Street, tomorrow, as two novels of the Italian author have been translated into Vietnamese.

Another book talk and presentation will take place at 7.30pm, tomorrow, at Manzi Art Space, 14 Phan Huy Ich Street, featuring John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, an English writer, best known in Viet Nam as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. — VNS