World Book Night launched with million book giveaway

by David Tails Mon 07 Mar 2011, 12:37 pm

One million books, including works by Alan Bennett and John le Carre, have been given away in the UK and Ireland to mark the inaugural World Book Night.

They have been distributed at venues including homeless centres, pubs and hospitals in a bid to boost reading.

Some 20,000 people were asked to pick their favourite from 25 titles and were then given 48 copies to pass on to friends with their recommendation.

BBC Two is screening an evening of special programmes to mark the event.

Organiser Jamie Byng said it had been tough to come up with a shortlist of just 25 books, chosen by a committee of booksellers, librarians and broadcasters.

"We wanted to created a really balanced list that had things on it that would appeal to everyone," he told the BBC.

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So were you a recipient of one of the books in the giveaway? Or perhaps you were even giving the books away?