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Annual trade event welcomes delegates from around the world
This year’s London Book Fair, one of the UK’s biggest book events, has been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus epidemic.
“It was with reluctance that we made the decision not to move forward with this year’s event,” said organizer Reed Exhibitions. in a report.
The announcement follows a number of publishers and agencies who withdrew from the event.
It was to take place at the London Olympia from March 10 to 12.
Reed Exhibitions said that many participants at the fair had faced travel restrictions in the run-up to this year’s event.
The company said the London Book Fair would return “better than ever” in 2021.
Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster were among several leading publishers to withdraw from the show before it was canceled.
Amazon also pulled out earlier this week “as a precaution, and with the health and safety of our employees, customers, and partners as our # 1 priority.”
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The annual fair sees more than 25,000 people involved in the publishing industry come together to promote their books, sell their rights and negotiate deals.
The event, organized for the first time in 1971, was to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.
Cressida Cowell, Lynda La Plante, Edna O’Brien and Gyles Brandreth were among the authors ready to attend.
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