Edinburgh International Book Festival News
Watch Ian McEwan and Philip Gourevitch online
Check out two new entertaining 2007 Book Festival events on our Audio/Video pages.
Ian McEwan tells chair Ian Rankin about his early work, influences and most recent publication, On Chesil Beach in this relaxed, chatty event. Great fun.
Esteemed editor of The Paris Review, Philip Gourevitch, discusses the magazine's position as one of the great iconic literary publications. See him divulge behind-the-scenes stories about some of the world's greatest writers who he has interviewed for The Review.
A L Kennedy wins Costa Book of the Year
A L Kennedy, the bookies favourite and a hugely popular Book Festival guest, has just been announced the winner of the Costa Book of the Year for her brilliantly realised novel, Day. The Costa judges described the book as 'a masterpiece'.
We were lucky enough to have A L Kennedy at the Book Festival last year when she gave an emotive talk about Day. She also performed one of her renowned stand up comedy routines and joined in the fun of the Ballads of the Book event, (a celebration of the groundbreaking collaborative album created by leading Scottish writers and musicians).
You can now listen to her event about Day in our audio archive.
One of the most prestigious and popular literary prizes in the UK, the Costa Book of the Year award is chosen from five categories. Against outstanding competition; Catherine O'Flynn's humorous and haunting debut novel What Was Lost, Simon Sebag Montefiore's powerful biography Young Stalin, Jean Sprackland's raw yet delicate poetry collection Tilt and Ann Kelley's life-affirming crossover novel The Bower Bird, Day went on to win the overall prize of £25,000.
Director of the Book Festival, Catherine Lockerbie said, 'Linguistic brilliance and an astonishing reach of imaginative empathy have made A L Kennedy into one of the most remarkable writers of her generation. Her latest novel Day is perhaps her finest yet... a moving, profound, beautifully realised story.'
Norman Mailer at the Edinburgh International Book Festival
We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Norman Mailer, titan of American letters, who took part in a unique and pioneering event at our festival last summer, speaking and signing books from 3,000 miles away. Click here to listen to this historic interview.
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