15 Aug 2011 01:12:02
On 5 April this year, one million books, from Yann Martel's Life of Pi to Toni Morrison's Beloved, were given away in the UK as part of the inaugural World Book Night. Twenty thousand "givers" each distributed 48 copies of one of 25 titles, with the remaining books handed out by the World Book Night organisation itself in "difficult to reach" spots such as prisons and hospitals.
Next year, on the new date of 23 April – the UNESCO-appointed international day of the book as well as the traditional date of Shakespeare's birth and his death – the US will become the event's first international partner, with plans to give away one million books from coast to coast.
"We always hoped that World Book Night would become a global initiative that truly lived up to its name," said World Book Night founder Jamie Byng. The event's chief executive, Julia Kingsford, said she was "thrilled to welcome the USA as the first international partner for what we very much hope will become a global celebration of books and reading".
Readers are currently voting for the top ten books they would like to see given away next year, with To Kill a Mockingbird, Pride and Prejudice, The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, The Lord of the Rings and Jane Eyre the most popular choices so far. The public ballot is running until 31 August, when a committee chaired by the author Tracy Chevalier will select the final 25 titles.
The US division of World Book Night will be run by Carl Lennertz, supported by a cross-industry steering committee which is in the process of being pulled together. Lennertz is currently vice president for independent retailing at HarperCollins, but said he "couldn't pass up this chance to be a part of such an exciting venture as World Book Night in the US".
"The first World Book Night was simply the most extraordinary event celebrating the joy of books and reading and creating a network of passionate booklovers," said Kingsford. "It is so exciting that in 2012 we'll be able to build that community internationally and spread a love of reading around the globe."
