The 56th Annual Frankfurt Book Fair gets underway on Tuesday: The event, the largest of its kind, promises to be a more solemn affair than in year's past, with the Arab World serving as special guest.

As usual, thousands of exhibitors from all over the world will be on hand to plug their latest offerings, and the publishing world's glitterati will turn-up to add a touch of glamour to the event. However, politics, not parties and business deals, will dominate this year's fair, with the members of the Arab League in attendance looking to raise the profile of their home-grown writers and build a cultural bridge to the West at a time when tensions are high.

Read more about events and news from this year's Frankfurt Book Fair in this special DW-WORLD dossier.