German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier listens to an audio sample of Telugu as he tours the India stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

India is the guest of honour at the world's largest book fair, which begins on Wednesday.

Around 180,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the fair along with an estimated 100,000 members of the general public when the doors are opened to them on Saturday and Sunday.

India as the guest of honour will use the event as an opportunity to showcase its culture and literature, and to promote the translation of books written in the country's 24 official languages.

"We are focusing on conveying a holistic image of modern India around books, in keeping with the theme, 'Today's India'," said Nuzhat Hassan, director of India's National Book Trust, the main organiser.

Besides the cultural aspect, the fair is mainly about selling book rights with an estimated 600 million euros worth of business carried out during last year's edition.

Around 1,000 authors are expected to appear at the fair, including Amitav Ghosh and Mahasweta Devi, in addition to  Zadie Smith and Ken Follett.

Text: DPA | Photograph: John Macdougall/AFP/Getty Images