Travelling beyond the borders of Baku through fiction

From the poetry of medieval Azerbaijan to contemporary novels reaching readers from across different continents, Baku's relationship with the written word is rooted in centuries of cultural exchange. Today, that literary heritage is finding new expression as authors, publishers and readers from Europe, Asia and beyond came together in the Azerbaijani capital for the twelfth year running. The 12th Baku International Book Fair saw 32 countries taking part in an event which was not simply about discovering the latest books. It was an opportunity to explore how literature connects hearts and minds across languages, generations, and geographical barriers by blending and sharing ideas and stories.