The news that a publishing house was offering 10,000 free books to celebrate the World Book Day brought thousands of Romanians downtown Bucharest on Wednesday evening. The event, organized by the Litera publishing houses, peaked when the crowd took the area almost by assault, in an attempt to pick up at least a free book.

Some managed to get more than a few books, as they came prepared with large bags for the occasion. Others went home with a book sign and a flower picked up from the ground after the crowd dismantled, and after the ad-hoc book exchange session of the event finished.

It was the second edition of this event, after the first last year, which attracted a high number of people too. It is uncertain whether those who picked up many books took them for their own use, or intended to re-sell them.

April 23 is a symbolic date for world literature. It is on this date in 1616 that Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors, such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.

April 23 was first proclaimed as World Book and Copyright Day by UNESCO in 1995, and it is observed by millions of people in over 100 countries.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photos from Litera on Facebook)