Armed with our mission to democratise access to books – for readers and authors alike – we travelled the country, from hectic cities to quiet villages, organising events where we were least expected.

We released books in bookstores, but also in libraries, hypermarkets, bars, restaurants, beaches, gardens, palaces and even in a prison.

Wherever there were readers and authors, so were we. Spreading awareness of newfound accessibility and opportunity remains, to this day, one of Chiado Books’ most honest initiatives.

From day one we wanted to do things differently, and better. We organised an annual poetry event, with around 1,000 poets, to visit the largest performance venues in the country (Salão Preto e Prata, Teatro Tivoli, Convento São Francisco, a few examples among many others).

We didn’t stop there.

On World Book Day, we launched a unique challenge to create a book of short stories in one day. The authors came to us during the morning with their stories, having been analysed and selected by our editors on the spot, and the cover and pagination were ready by the end of the morning. By 7pm the book was ready and 1,000 copies were offered.

We created mini libraries in around 100 cafes, restaurants and bars, so anyone could read a book in those quiet and peaceful in-between moments of life.

We installed summer libraries on beaches in the Algarve, the Cascais line, the Azores, and even on the urban beach of Jardim do Torel. We also published a book with two-hundred Madeiran authors on the subject of Madeira Island, organising the launch in an old fort and bringing together hundreds of people who, previously, could rarely be present at our events.

And these are only a few of our success stories...