Graphic novels are enjoying a steady growth in popularity.
More and more bookshops and libraries are displaying these kinds of comic prominently with a section devoted to them permanently in their programme. The cultural pages of newspapers report regularly on the graphic novels, and general interest publishers are increasingly open to the genre. Some titles are filmed and thus become even better known.
But what is a graphic novel anyway? When, in the 1970s, the multi-faceted comics author, Will Eisner, added a subheading to the cover of his, A Contract with God, describing it as a graphic novel, he wanted to make clear his comic should be viewed as a work of literature, and that the stories it contained were aimed at an adult readership. Not only was the book released through a literary publisher, but it was also produced as a hardback in a smaller format, which helped bring it closer to its target audience's expectations of a literary work. Today, based on that first book, a separate genre has developed, formally categorised together with comics, yet widely differentiated in terms of content. Above all, a graphic novel is similar to a traditional novel in being self-contained, rather than published as an episodic series, as is the case with comics.

Catalogue Comics Collection

The return of politics to German-language literature – The Frankfurt Book Fair's book collection of new literary titles in 2011
"There are many trails through German literature... In the last two years, however, the country roads into the German provinces have been widened substantially. Here it’s even possible to meet 'Black Forest Girls' who, as in Daniel Bachmann’s novel of that name, also live eventful lives as politically hyperactive women... People’s unease about contemporary events has found its way into literature in many ways."
Dr Eberhard Falcke, literary critic and arts journalist, on the new literary releases.

Catalogue new literary releases

A Frankfurt Book Fair book collection on the theme of mobility
These days, the topic of mobility covers a diverse spectrum. In an broad arc around cars and the various other forms of transport, this book exhibition highlights new concepts and questions, with a special focus on urban-ecological issues.

Catalogue Rights of Way

A Frankfurt Book Fair book collection
From travel guides to coffee table books: useful titles for a taste of Germany