In a year dominated by divisive, nationalist politics, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the 2017 Frankfurt Book FairWorld's largest trade fair for books; held annually mid-October at Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany; First three days exclusively for trade visitors; general public can attend last two. by emphasizing the importance of books and culture. Speaking at the fair's opening ceremony, the two leaders spoke of forging a new Europe that is united-not divided-by culture and mulitlingualism.