(ANSA) - PISA, AUG 23 - Contemporary Romanian literature, with guest of honor writer Mircea Cărtărescu, among the most authoritative voices on the European literary scene, and mountains, narrated by writer-mountaineer Enrico Camanni, among the leading Italian interpreters of alpine culture, are the themes of the Pisa Book Festival, a national book fair dedicated to independent Italian publishers, scheduled for Oct. 2-5. Taking part in the event, now in its 23rd edition, will be 90 independent publishers from every region of Italy, ready to offer readers an unforgettable journey through books. There will be no shortage of meetings with authors, history lessons, master classes, reading marathons and Italian and international guests on the program. New for this edition, a note explains, is the "A tutto volume," a marathon of read alouds organized by high schools. Starring four local institutions that will read for the festival audience The Great Gatsby (Pacinotti High School of Pisa), The Animal Farm (Galilei High School of Pisa), The Sergeant in the Snow (Dini High School of Pisa), and The Eight Mountains (ITCG Fermi of Pontedera). Also returning is the Pisa Book Translation Awards. The scientific jury has selected the trio of finalists. They are Laura Angeloni, for her translation of I am the Abyss by Lucie Faulerová (Miraggi), Elvira Grassi, for Amelia by Anna Burns (Keller), and Milena Sanfilippo, for Sfòndati by Douglas Coupland (Accento Edizioni).Also at the Festival, career awards will be given to Elena Liverani, translator, and Marco Cassini, editor of Sur. The Poetry Prize goes to Alberto Cristofori, for his translation of Song of myself (Song of myself, Low Editions), and the Special Jury Prize to Giulia Ansaldo, for her translation of Asli Erdogan's All Hours and None. The award ceremony will be held on Friday, October 3. "The extraordinary participation of publishers confirms that, despite the growing popularity of social media, the fair continues to be a key venue for discovering new books," says Lucia Della Porta, festival director. It also remains an irreplaceable space to cultivate and strengthen relationships among publishers and with all the players in the publishing industry." (ANSA).