Annual Review 2019
2019 saw around 850 events taking place in August and many more across the year in our commnities programme. We went on the hunt for new stories in a world that seems to need them with increasing urgency. The contradictions in modern life need imaginative thinking, and bold new solutions and authors and audiences came together to speak, listen and share their ideas.
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Annual Review 2018
In 2018, we explored ideas around Freedom – free speech; freedom of expression; freedom of the individual. Which freedoms must we insist on, and which ones are we willing to give up in the name of a better society? These questions lent a unique flavour to discussions in August and to our work across the rest of the year.
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Annual Review 2017
In 2017, we asked the question ‘who are we now?’ as over 1000 authors, illustrators, historians, scientists, sports people, musicians, philosophers and more travelled from far and wide to offer their unique words and perspectives…
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Annual Review 2016
In 2016, we ‘imagined better’ with authors from across the globe joining us to share stories, ideas and offer unique perspectives…
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Annual Review 2015
In 2015, authors from far and wide came to Scotland to tell us their stories, including Mexican artists, The First Nation Innu People of Northern Canada and Australian Indigenous writers, in fascinating events that threw light on cultures far removed from our own…
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Annual Review 2014
In 2014 we celebrated dialogue, encouraging a vibrant new spirit of public democracy whilst Scotland basked in the world’s media spotlight…
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Annual Review 2013
In 2013 we were moved and inspired by literary stars such as John Banville, Salman Rushdie, Edna O’Brien, Manuel Rivas, Kathleen Jamie, Kay Ryan and Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman...
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Annual Review 2012
Among the highlights of 2012 were Zadie Smith with a new novel, Alice Oswald’s 90 minute rendition of her poem reimagining The Illiad, Hilary Mantel discussing her Booker-winning novels, Jeanette Winterson with a searing memoir, Eoin Colfer’s final Artemis Fowl instalment…
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Annual Review 2011
Evocative, playful and thought-provoking words were brought to us by such literary stars as A S Byatt, Ali Smith, Carol Ann Duffy, T C Boyle, Neil Gaiman, Tobias Wolff, Paul Muldoon, Alan Hollinghurst....
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Annual Review 2010
Jackie Kay, A L Kennedy, Jeanette Winterson, Nicholas Parsons and Elaine C Smith captured the spirit of the Festival and had audiences transfixed at their barnstorming solo performances...
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Annual Review 2009
Acclaimed poet Ruth Padel, great-great-granddaughter of Charles Darwin, kicked off our series of events which attempted to re-evaluate the groundbreaking...
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Annual Review 2008
The festival launched with a total of 120 authors appearing in 84 events. Twenty five years later we presented over 800 authors in nearly 750 events....
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Annual Review 2007
With more new authors, more events, more enthusiasm, the Edinburgh International Book Festival continues to go from strength to strength...
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Annual Review 2006
Months on from last summer’s Book Festival, people are still talking about it. They’re talking not just about the authors they heard or the books they’ve read, but also about the ideas the Book Festival generated and the issues it tackled...
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Annual Review 2005
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is the largest festival of its kind in the world. A vibrant meeting place for the greatest international writers and thinkers and the finest Scottish authors, the Book Festival has grown rapidly to its current position of global importance...
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Annual Review 2004
In 2004, the Edinburgh International Book Festival continued to go from strength to strength. This was particularly true with its acclaimed programme of children’s events. Introducing young people to the joys of reading can be a life enhancing experience...
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Jenny Niven in The List ‘Hot 100’ 
