More than 30 renowned writers and editors from home and abroad will participate in the Shanghai International Literary Week, a highlight of the upcoming Shanghai Book Fair which will be held from Aug 15 to 21 at the Shanghai Exhibition Center.

Events including new book launches, book readings and lectures by authors will also take place across the city during this period.

Founded in 2011, the Shanghai International Literary Week has been attended by a host of international literary stars including Nobel Laureates such as J.M.G. Le Clezio, V. S. Naipaul and Svetlana Alexievich.

This year, one of the most influential guests is Peter Englund, a member of the Swedish Academy, the institution that decides on the laureates for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Other authors slated to attend the event include Mia Couto from Mozambique, Alvaro Enrigue from Mexico, Izabella Kaluta, an author, editor and publisher from Poland, and Catherine Morris from the Times Literary Supplement in London.

Together with writers from China, the guest authors will present 40 book readings and dialogues inspired by the theme “Why We Travel”.