Carrier helps book fair turn 25

Then there are the collectors — those die-hard bibliophiles who frequent the dustiest, mustiest corners of second-hand bookstores and can tell you with no fear of contradiction the publication dates and minor differences in the various editions of old classics most of us should have read by now but admittedly have not. To these avid connoisseurs, book fairs are equivalent to their birthday and Christmas all rolled into one fabulous event where everyone speaks the same language and can be expected to know the difference between Moll and Ned Flanders.

Readers, writers, book lovers and indeed anyone who appreciates the dignified look, feel and smell of a dusty old tome, will have their chance to attend Montreal’s own literary Woodstock next weekend, when the Montreal Antiquarian Book Fair sets up its stalls on the main floor of Concordia’s downtown McConnell library building.

The 25th anniversary edition of this popular annual event not only boasts “a wide selection of collectable books, out of print, rare, illustrated first editions and fine bindings,” but this year also features a special treat — an appearance by Roch Carrier, the prominent Canadian author and Westmount resident whose devotion to promoting libraries and literacy is well-known across the country.

Carrier will open the two-day event with an introductory speech on Saturday at noon.

As a special initiative for the event, he has published a bilingual chapbook, The Art of Buying an Antiquarian Book, which consists of a charming sketch about his finding a literary gem — in this case a long out-of-print edition of Xavier de Maistre’s Collected Works — in, off all places, an Istanbul market.

Anyone familiar with Carrier’s work — aside from the brief excerpt on the reverse of our $5 bill, that is — will instantly recognize his distinct style and voice in this delightful memoir that reflects his own love and profound respect for books. The small, very limited edition will be available to the first 1,000 visitors to the fair.

As we evolve ever so certainly toward a much more electronic-based society, where the written word on paper is rapidly losing ground to the computer screen, it’s good to know that the Antiquarian Book Fair remains a popular annual event — serving as a constant and reassuring reminder that there are still a lot of people out there who continue to cherish books, either as readers or collectors.

But while the title of the fair may deter some potential attendees — the very word ‘Antiquarian’ can sound a bit stuffy and pompous to some, not to mention expensive — it should be pointed out that some deals may be found for as little as $25.

One of the primary organizers and promoters of the event is Adrian King-Edwards, known to many Montrealers — and especially more than one generation of McGill students — as a proprietor of The Word bookstore, the literary landmark on Milton Street. Anyone wishing to learn more about the fair may contact him at 514-845-5640. · The Montreal Antiquarian Book Fair will be held on the ground floor of the McConnell Library Building at Concordia University, 1400 de Maisonneuve Boul., on Saturday, Sept. 27 from noon to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 for the two days.