Ones and Tooze The Frankfurt Book Fair
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Oct 17, 2025 Join Adam as he explores the rich history of the Frankfurt Book Fair, from its origins with Gutenberg to its revival post-World War II. Discover how the fair has shaped publishing economics and political discourse. Delve into the scale of the global publishing industry and the dynamics of rights and translation markets. Adam also reflects on the influence of traditional gatekeepers versus the rise of self-publishing and audiobooks. Finally, ponder the cultural relevance of books in an era of shifting reading habits.
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Frankfurt's Printing Origins
- Gutenberg's partners moved printing from Mainz to Frankfurt in the 1460s, which set the city on a centuries-long print trajectory.
- Adam Tooze recalls Frankfurt becoming a major book hub by the 1500s and publishing a fair catalogue by the 1560s.
Postwar Fair As Democratic Symbol
- The modern Frankfurt Book Fair was relaunched after World War II as a symbol of West German democracy and free publishing.
- Tooze highlights the 1848 Frankfurt Parliament legacy as key to the fair's postwar revival and internationalization.
Publishing's Economic Footprint
- Global publisher revenue was about $76 billion in 2022, concentrated in markets like the U.S., Germany, Japan, and India.
- Tooze argues publishing is a small slice of GDP but a high-leverage cultural core feeding wider creative industries.
