A non-stop reading of the classic Spanish novel, Don Quixote, is underway in Madrid -- one of several events being staged in different countries to mark World Book Day April 23rd.

Hundreds of celebrities have been taking it in turns to read in relay, for two minutes each, some of them via video links from Latin America.

World Book Day is designed to encourage the reading of books as a way of gaining insight, information and amusement.

The British prime minister, Tony Blair, writing in The Times newspaper, describes reading as one of life's great pleasures and says it's a mistake to believe that the advent of computers, videos and CD-Roms means books are on the way out.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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