Prologue


The rise and spread of Islamic civilization, in its first few centuries, coincided with an ever increasing diffusion in book trade. The dependence of such trade on the arts of writing and paper production prompted Muslims to strive toward acquiring the needed skills in these two areas. Muslims’ first contact with the craft of papermaking occurred in the 2nd/8th century and there began to appear paper factories throughout Muslim territories. Coming into contact with the intellectual heritage of Iran and the Greco-Roman world and the burgeoning number of questions and scientific challenges resulting from such contacts, on the one hand, and the emphasis placed upon knowledge and learning in Islam, on the other hand, were among factors which gave further impetus to the expansion of writing and book production. This, in turn, led to the birth of a new class of merchants, who specialized in books. The phenomenon is referred to, in Arabic sources, as “sawq al-kutub”, “bay` al-kutub”, or “sawq al-warr?q?n”. Thus, there came into existence a new sphere of activity which was made up of bibliopoles, papermakers, bookbinders, scientists, scribes, and a host of other craftsmen and specialists.


Book markets were particularly thriving in metropolises and major political centers such as Baghdad, Cairo, Cordoba, Khur?s?n, and Syria. Bookshops were often accompanied by places to display books and, even, facilities for their storage. There, also, were venues for reading and study, which served as meeting places for masters and pupils and forums for learned disputations .


Bookstores were regular hangouts for such personalities as Ibn Nad?m,

Y?q?t Œumaw?, and `Al? b. •s? (Ibn K?chak). Such individuals, in addition to writing and trading in books, served as consultants to fellow authors, schools, and wealthy patrons of learning, including princes and emirs. Book markets reached their apogee during the reign of `Abbasids. Ya`q?b? reports the existence of over one hundred bookstores in Baghdad’s Wa»»?E district.


Whereas book markets have a long history in the Islamic world, book fairs in their modern form have only appeared in Europe since the beginning of the 20th century. They have become part and parcel of the cultural, and even economic, structure of Western countries. Book fairs should not be viewed as short-lived affairs and seasonal occasions for entertainment. On the contrary, they should be considered as major venues of cultural exchange between peoples and countries, and as thoroughfares for the entrance of other cultures and the transfer of a country’s culture beyond its geographical boundaries. Book fairs are the crystalization of efforts aimed at the institutionalization of doctrines and precepts based on religiosity and rationality. Book fairs are the means of establishing closer contacts between authors, publishers, and readers. Book fairs are the records of the cultural achievements of societies and the means of their public assessment. And, finally, book fairs are instruments for taking advantage of the achievements of other peoples and cultures toward the development of indigenous individual and collective talents.


At the same time, book fairs are indices of a society’s cultural weaknesses and deficiencies. The splendor and grandeur of a book fair, however, seems to distract from such considerations. This might serve as an explanation for the fact that, so far, the officials of the Tehran International Book Fair have made no attempts toward an analysis of the existing shortcomings and defects. And if there have been steps taken in that direction, no public information has been forthcoming. Considering the positive role of critical assessment in other fields, it appears that it should also be accorded similar reception in this area.


A book fair calls for a complicated and intricate technology. It entails a high level of administration, a thorough knowledge of foreign and domestic communication, advanced printing and publishing facilities, familiarity with the various aspects of writing, awareness of and attention to the society’s cultural and intellectual aspirations, and, finally, an in-depth understanding of the economics of exhibitions and international book trade. In other words, book fairs have lost their ceremonial aspect and turned into professional and specialized affairs. Presently, there are several international book fairs throughout the world, including the Middle East region, which are engaged in a close competition. In today’s world, execution of a successful book fair is comparable to achieving a championship position in an athletic competition. The learned community in Iran expects the officials of the book fair to do their utmost in elevating the status of the Fair so as to win the pride of place from their counterparts in Cairo, Ash-Sh?riqah, and Damascus; and even, in the future, Frankfort and Chicago. This, needless to say, is contingent upon calling into service the aforementioned skills and technologies, in addition to placing trust upon the expert opinions of those who are active in the area of culture and other related subjects.


The 14th Tehran International Book Fair is now behind us. From the outset, the staff of the Islamic Books Quarterly attempted at an expert analysis of the various aspects of the fair. Part of this effort consisted of conducting interviews with scientific personalities from, both, Iran and abroad. The bulk of the interviews were in the form of questionaires sent to these individuals. There, also, were a number of roundtables, in which various officials and cultural critics discussed ways to promote and improve various dimensions of the Fair.


Published reports of the fair are often limited to mere descriptions of the events and, rarely, go into an assessment of its various aspects. This is at a time when the International Book Fair, as a major cultural exhibit, can effect profound changes in the cultural fabric of the country and act as a vehicle for the exportation of the existing culture far beyond its territorial boundaries.


In our view, efforts have to be made toward an exposition and evaluation of the various aspects of this cultural phenomenon or, at least, accounts of its obstacles and behind-the- scene developments be made available to the experts and the public at large. This, in spite of its seemingly negative administrative consequences, will bring about a far more salutary state of affairs. To say the least, it would create an atmosphere within which the country’s cultural experts are made aware of what goes on around them and, thus, would be better equipped for a more fundamental assessment of the relevant issues. In the long run, such a condition will have proven immensely efficacious toward the cultural evolution of the country.


In any event, the present report is the result of our all-out effort to present as incisive an account as possible of the 14th Tehran International Book Fair. We, of course, have no claim to comprehensiveness. Surely, there must be important issues and opinions that have escaped our attention. May the guidance and criticism of the learned community assist us in our future assessments of this great national conference.