The 2013 Santo Domingo International Book Fair ended last night, Sunday 5 May with the Minister of Culture awarding prizes to some of the outstanding exhibitors and proclaiming “Mission Accomplished!” This year’s Special Guest Country was Ecuador. The closing ceremony was held in the Juan Bosch Auditorium of the Pedro Henriquez Urena National Library, and it was announced that next year’s guest country would be Panama. This year’s fair included the participation of 174 national and international publishing houses and 274 bookstores. The event was dedicated to Hilma Contreras, a writer from San Francisco de Macoris. National figures such as Juan Pablo Duarte – the bicentennial of his birth, the Dominican Restoration – 150 years ago, and the 59th anniversary of the government of Juan Bosch were all part of the celebrations. The Book Fair is best known as a cultural extravaganza, where hundreds of thousands of people go to spend the day, strolling amongst books and enjoying free artistic and cultural performances all day long.