The promotion of Felix Kanitz's book "Journey through Southern Serbia and Northern Bulgaria in 1864."

Felix Kanitz (1829-1904), an Austrian travel writer, explorer, illustrator, archaeologist, and ethnographer, needs little introduction to the Serbian audience. His significance transcends narrow academic circles and resonates widely, especially among those interested in the history and ethnology of Serbia and the Balkans in the 19th century. Kanitz's works portrayed a civilized and beautiful image of Serbia to Europe and the world, and his writings and descriptions of our country are arguably the most cited sources for the history, ethnology, geography, and architecture of Serbia and the Balkans of that time.

The book "Journey through Southern Serbia and Northern Bulgaria in 1864" was translated by Milorad Sofronijević, with edition editing by Dr. Vladimir Abramović and Dr. Adam Sofronijević. Dr. Danijel Radović provided a detailed presentation of the book's significance for 19th-century history at the promotion event, dubbing Kanitz as the "Balkan Columbus."

In addition to promoting Felix Kanitz's book, the event also raised questions about the future of the printed book and advanced reading processes. The printed book is increasingly becoming an object for gifting and decoration, rather than its primary function of being read. Reading as a process and habit develops qualities like patience, diligence, thoroughness, and persistence in readers. Therefore, the issue of the survival of the printed book and advanced reading processes extends beyond the development of taste, general culture, and information, becoming a question of fostering values that lead to the construction of XX century and previous century values and times in which fast solutions, education on click, minute satisfaction, emotions in a moment, and renunciation as a general framework were not an option, said Adam Sofronijević, one of the editors.