International UN Book & copyright day

[PandathePanda]

Just heard about this on the radio news here.

23 April 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.

It was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those, who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity. In this regard, UNESCO created the World Book and Copyright Day.

According to the UN's page the Book Capital for 2015 is
Incheon, Republic of Korea

UN page: http://www.un.org/en/events/bookday/

[Barcey]

I wonder if they'll mind at work if I read at my desk all day? "I'm just honouring the World Book and Copyright Day"

[PandathePanda]

Originally Posted by Barcey

I wonder if they'll mind at work if I read at my desk all day? "I'm just honouring the World Book and Copyright Day"

We're so busy at work that we're reading books at work. My co-worker almost finished the book I'm borrowing him, and I'm 4 chapters into my review copy that I'm reading.

[pdurrant]

"It is on this date in 1616 that Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died"

Shakespeare did die on 23 April 1616
Cervantes might have died on the 22nd of April, not the 23rd.
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega did die on 23 April 1616.

But while Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died on the same day (or within one day of each other), Shakespeare died 10 days later. In 1616 England was still on the Julian calendar, while Catholic countries were on the Gregorian calendar.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Shakespeare died 10 days later. In 1616 England was still on the Julian calendar, while Catholic countries were on the Gregorian calendar.

The reference to Nabokov is also wrong (he was born in 1899), because Russia didn't adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1918.

[murg]

I can't believe that people here expected the UN to get it right...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by PandathePanda

We're so busy at work that we're reading books at work. My co-worker almost finished the book I'm borrowing him, and I'm 4 chapters into my review copy that I'm reading.

"Borrowing him"? Do you mean "lending him"?

[PandathePanda]

Originally Posted by HarryT

"Borrowing him"? Do you mean "lending him"?

Yip