Doina Ruști, Guest at the Istanbul Book Fair (2015), where Romania was Guest of Honour

Romania’s participation as Guest of Honour at the Istanbul International Book Fair (2015) marked an important moment for the visibility of Romanian literature in the Turkish cultural space. The four‑day event brought together writers, translators, and publishers, generating a series of debates, public readings, and meetings dedicated to the cultural dialogue between Bucharest and Istanbul. Among the invited authors was Doina Ruști, with The Phanariot Manuscript. (2015-10-20)

In October 2015, Romania was the Guest of Honour at the Istanbul Book Fair, one of the most important publishing events in Turkey (October 20–23).

At this edition, the novelist Doina Ruști participated with The Phanariot Manuscript, a recently published novel at the time, in a context that encouraged dialogue between Romanian literature and the Ottoman imaginary. Bucharest and Istanbul—two cities historically connected during the Phanariot era—were reflected both in the public discussions and in the selected excerpts.

The program included round tables, readings, interviews, and meetings with readers, as well as events organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute in Istanbul. The discussions focused on The Phanariot Manuscript, on the historical context of the Phanariot period, and on the cultural connections between the two spaces.

A special moment was the event hosted by the Romanian Cultural Institute in Istanbul, dedicated to literary translation, bringing together Doina Ruști, Matei Vișniec, Dan Lungu, Vasile Ernu, and other invited writers.

A substantial excerpt from The Phanariot Manuscript was published in the literary magazine Sözcükler, in two consecutive issues. The texts, focusing on the relationship between Bucharest and Istanbul, were translated by Leila Ünal (issue 58) and Sunia Iliaz Acmambet (issue 61).

The events took place in the presence of prominent Romanian writers and critics, including Doina Ruști, Matei Vișniec, Vasile Ernu, Dan Lungu, Carmen Mușat, Gabriela Adameșteanu, and Mircea Dinescu.