Charly Cox, Theresa Lola & Tayi Tibble at the Edinburgh International Book Festival ‘It’s official. We’ve fallen (back) in love with poetry’ the Metro declared earlier this year, reporting a 12% increase in poetry book sales in 2018. Underpinning the boom are bold new voices exploring issues from politics to mental health on page… Carol Ann Duffy at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Carol Ann Duffy’s poetry has long been both private and public, her knack for voicing her own imagination and the sighs and roars of the world around her unparalleled. She recently ended a decade as Poet Laureate, and the final collection of her tenure,… Arundhati Roy talks to Nicola Sturgeon at the Edinburgh International Book Festival What did Arundhati Roy do between the publication of her Booker-winning debut The God of Small Things in 1997 and her extraordinary follow-up, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness two decades later? In a stunning new book of essays, we have the definitive ans… Jackie Kay speaks to Tanika Gupta at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Three years into her stint as Scots Makar, Jackie Kay’s exuberance and insight have helped her bring poetry to the people. In this event filmed live at the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival, she reads a selection of new poems inspired by her tr… Ian Robertson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival For over 40 years, Ian Robertson has been an instantly recognisable and eminently authoritative voice for rugby fans everywhere. His commentary has added to classic encounters such as the 2003 World Cup Final, when England triumphed at the death against h… Allan Little's Big Interview with Elif Shafak at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Turkish-British author Elif Shafak is a respected campaigner for women’s rights and free speech. She wrote in the New Yorker that ‘wave after wave of nationalism and tribalism have hit the shores of countries across Europe, and they have reached the U… Tim Winton at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Only dreamers or the desperate would cross the vast saltland deserts of Western Australia. So which is Jaxie Clacton, the lonely boy at the heart of Tim Winton’s brutal, tender novel The Shepherd’s Hut? It’s the latest masterful work by one of the w… Fatima Bhutto at the Edinburgh International Book Festival In this event recorded live at the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival, we are thrilled to welcome back Fatima Bhutto to discuss her second novel The Runaways. Published against the backdrop of the Shamima Begum controversy, Bhutto’s novel could … Kit de Waal with Damian Barr at the Edinburgh International Book Festival The publishing world is finally waking up to the barriers that have prevented working class voices from being heard in books. Kit de Waal grew up in Birmingham’s Irish community and she has successfully broken into the mainstream with two highly acclaim… Sue Perkins speaks to Ruth Wishart at the Edinburgh International Book Festival After her sell-out Book Festival appearance in 2016, beloved broadcaster Sue Perkins is back to take us all East of Croydon. Her new book charts her odyssey through South East Asia; a journey which took her along the great Mekong River through Thailand, C… DeRay Mckesson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival In 2014 DeRay Mckesson quit his job and moved to Ferguson, Missouri to protest against the police shooting of Michael Brown Jr, an unarmed African-American teenager. He spent the next 400 days on the streets as an activist and helped bring the Black Lives… Paul Mason at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Faith in technological progress has verged on religious, but recently our trust in many things – truth, leadership, the digital world – has been badly dented. Paul Mason senses catastrophe. The popular political commentator thinks we need a humanist r… Salman Rushdie at the Edinburgh International Book Festival One of the most significant writers of our age, Salman Rushdie joins the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 for the worldwide launch of epic novel Quichotte… Mary Robinson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival While the realities of climate change are not always visible, the realisation that our grandchildren will live in troubled times can catalyse action. After becoming a grandmother, former Irish president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robi… Malorie Blackman at the Edinburgh International Book Festival One of the UK’s most influential children’s authors, Malorie Blackman brings you the highly anticipated new book in her groundbreaking Noughts & Crosses series, Crossfire. Dealing with racism, politics and terrorism, the series feels as relevant today… Stuart MacBride at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Spend an hour with master of suspense Stuart MacBride as he introduces his latest dark, thrilling novel in this event recorded live at the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival, in conversation with Lee Randall. With the nation at boiling point, some… Caroline Criado Perez talks to Sally Magnusson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival In conversation with Sally Magnusson, award-winning feminist campaigner and writer Caroline Criado Perez exposes the hidden systematic discrimination women face every day. Her book Invisible Women is her clarion call for change, bringing together new rese… Nayrouz Qarmout talks to Esa Aldegheri at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Gaza-based writer Nayrouz Qarmout returned to the Edinburgh International Book Festival to launch the English translation of her book The Sea Cloak. In her event, filmed live, the Palestinian author talks to fellow writer Esa Aldegheri about what motivate… Doddie Weir at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Scottish rugby star Doddie Weir hung up his boots after more than a decade at the pinnacle of the sport, only to return in 2017 to announce a new challenge: his Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis. My Name’5 Doddie is his account of a glittering career and … Venki Ramakrishnan at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Joint winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, Venki Ramakrishnan’s work has gone past the whys and wherefores of DNA and on to the ribosome, the structure which helps decode our genetic make-up. In a live event at the Edinburgh International Book … Cathy Newman at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Bloody Brilliant Women is Channel 4 News anchor Cathy Newman’s paean to those women who’ve shaped modern Britain, with the likes of Emmeline Pankhurst sharing pages with heroes like Beatrice Shilling, whose engineering prowess helped win the Battle of… Casey Gerald talks to DeRay Mckesson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Called ‘extraordinary’ and ‘electrifying’ by Marlon James and Colm Tóibín, Texan writer Casey Gerald’s powerful memoir traces fault lines in American racial and masculine identity… Tracey Thorn at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Returning to our roots can be tough, revealing and, as Tracey Thorn discovers in her book Another Planet, also inspiring. The singer-songwriter behind Everything But The Girl follows up her bestselling Bedsit Disco Queen with a wonderfully witty walk thro… Mark Walters with Pat Nevin at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Footballer Mark Walters is remembered for his wing wizardry, but while he’s revered by the Rangers faithful who cheered him for four trophy-laden years, he also endured racist chants – an issue he campaigns against now. In this event recorded live at … Ibram X Kendi talks to DeRay Mckesson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival We all occasionally do things that are racist, yet often fail to recognise it. Ibram X Kendi is a founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center in Washington DC. How To Be an Antiracist is his extraordinary guidebook which helps build a v… Lesley Riddoch at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Lesley Riddoch’s Blossom was a joyful intervention into Scottish independence discussions before the 2014 referendum. The award-winning journalist shone a light on community action and the everyday heroes who showed Scotland has the potential to grow an… Richard Holloway at the Edinburgh International Book Festival We need new stories to make sense of a changing world that sometimes seems to make no sense at all. In this keynote contribution to the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival, Richard Holloway explains why stories have been a critical tool for humans … James Acaster at the Edinburgh International Book Festival He’s been described as ‘a beige corduroy patchwork of eccentric inflections and odd obsessions that manages to be both supremely anorakish and strangely swaggering.’ Thanks to this singular style, James Acaster has become one of Britain’s funniest… David Cannadine at the Edinburgh International Book Festival It’s easy to feel fatigued by continual political crises and the nation’s uncertain future. In a world of chaotic news headlines, how can we find understanding and perspective on what is happening? Hear one of Britain’s most renowned historians and … Rory Stewart speaks with Charlotte Higgins at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Despite coming fourth in the Conservative Party’s leadership contest, Rory Stewart has emerged as one of this strange Summer’s surprise political winners. The International Development Secretary’s refreshing honesty and viral Twitter campaigning won… Louise Doughty & Stuart Turton at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Meet two British writers of cleverly conceived and suspenseful stories, Louise Doughty and Stuart Turton, who come together to talk about their new novels at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019. The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle, Turton’s… Tracey Thorn at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Returning to our roots can be tough, revealing and, as Tracey Thorn discovers in Another Planet, inspiring. The singer-songwriter behind Everything But The Girl follows up her bestselling Bedsit Disco Queen with a wonderfully witty walk through the malign… Gina Martin at the Edinburgh International Book Festival The vile practice of upskirting wasn’t an offence in Britain until activist Gina Martin came along. With no legal or political background, Martin changed the law within 18 months. Now, she wants to help others do the same. Be the Change is a campaigning… Gina Martin at the Edinburgh International Book Festival The vile practice of upskirting wasn’t an offence in Britain until activist Gina Martin came along. With no legal or political background, Martin changed the law within 18 months. Now, she wants to help others do the same. Be the Change is a campaigning… Julia Neuberger talks to Richard Holloway at the Edinburgh International Book Festival The recent history of Corbyn’s Labour Party shows that antisemitism remains a problem for British society. But headlines brought more confusion than clarity in debates about definition. Westminster peer and West London Synagogue’s Senior Rabbi Julia N… Caroline Criado Perez talks to Sally Magnusson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival In conversation with Sally Magnusson, award-winning feminist campaigner and writer Caroline Criado Perez exposes the hidden systematic discrimination women face every day… Markus Zusak at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Thirteen years since his multi-million bestseller The Book Thief, Markus Zusak joins us at the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival with his much-anticipated follow-up, Bridge of Clay… Mary Robinson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival While the realities of climate change are not always visible, the realisation that our grandchildren will live in troubled times can catalyse action. After becoming a grandmother, former Irish president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robi… Tim Winton talks to John Williams at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Only dreamers or the desperate would cross the vast saltland deserts of Western Australia. So which is Jaxie Clacton, the lonely boy at the heart of Tim Winton’s brutal, tender novel The Shepherd’s Hut? It’s a masterful work by one of the world’s … Prue Leith at the Edinburgh International Book Festival If The Great British Bake Off is your first encounter with Prue Leith, you’ve missed a great deal. Founder of Leith’s School of Food and Wine, restaurateur, journalist, novelist and now TV judge – she is one of the nation’s most respected foodies… Clare Balding at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Charlie Bass’s best friend Polly has a talent with horses, but after an accident it looks like her skills will go to waste. Can they find a way to make Polly’s equestrian dreams come true? Find out as award-winning broadcaster and equine expert Clare … Salman Rushdie talks to James Naughtie at the Edinburgh International Book Festival One of the most significant writers of our age, Salman Rushdie joined the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival for the worldwide launch of his epic novel Quichotte. The book has since been hailed as the author 'at his best' by countless critics; it … Ann Cleeves at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Having already made waves with her crime investigators, Shetland's Jimmy Perez and Tyneside's Vera Stanhope, much-loved author Ann Cleeves introduces us to a new detective in the shape of Devon’s Matthew Venn. She again proves herself to be a master of … Ruth Davidson talks to Katherine Grainger at the Edinburgh International Book Festival They say you should write about what you know – advice Ruth Davidson followed when she embarked on Yes She Can, a treatise on the power of inspirational women. When appointed in 2011, she was the youngest leader of a major UK political party and one of … Lemn Sissay at the Edinburgh International Book Festival One of Britain's best loved poets, Lemn Sissay is a performer of rare passion. But growing up with foster families and in care homes, Sissay struggled with his identity. The discovery of his birth name and Ethiopian background is the catalyst for refl… Kevin Barry at the Edinburgh International Book Festival In his early novels City of Bohane and Beatlebone as well as his short stories, Kevin Barry showed clear signs of his prodigious talent as a writer… Candice Carty-Williams & Annaleese Jochems at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Meet two authors chronicling the off-kilter experiences of upbeat millennials. Candice Carty-Williams’s novel Queenie sees a Jamaican British woman search for identity. Jojo Moyes called it ‘brilliant, timely, funny, heartbreaking’. Anna… Matt Haig at the Edinburgh International Book Festival The modern world can make us feel like the walls are closing in, but a vanguard of writers are here to help us cope – and none more so than Matt Haig. After the storming success of Reasons to Stay Alive comes Notes on a Nervous Planet, a wise and wi… Thomas Keneally at the Edinburgh International Book Festival The Booker Prize-winning Australian author of Schindler’s Ark, Thomas Keneally comes to the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 having woven another masterpiece in The Book of Science and Antiquities. Ancient human remains are found in Wester… George Alagiah speaks to Allan Little at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Join popular BBC broadcaster George Alagiah as he takes off his reporting hat and plunges into a new career as political thriller writer, drawing on his knowledge and experience of working in Africa. The Burning Land sees South Africa torn apart by propag… Peter Hitchens speaks to Ruth Wishart at the Edinburgh International Book Festival A former member of the International Socialists, Peter Hitchens now leans firmly to the right. But his latest book, The Phoney Victory, may rankle with those on both sides of the political spectrum as he argues that Britain went into truncated decline aft… Ben Okri at the Edinburgh International Book Festival ‘Storytellers sometimes see things before they have been experienced.’ This, from Ben Okri’s new chillingly dystopic novel The Freedom Artist, is a stark warning to readers. His world of truths eroded, of people shambling blindly towards calamity, i… Ian Rankin at the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival There’s no stopping Rebus. Ian Rankin’s iconic detective has recently made a stage debut in Long Shadows and will be resurrected on TV in a new series by Black Watch playwright Gregory Burke. The latest Rebus novel, In a House of Lies, is one of the f… Allan Little, Sheena McDonald & Gail Robinson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Twenty years ago, broadcaster Sheena McDonald was hit by a police van, narrowly escaping death. Her recovery led one doctor to describe her as ‘a walking miracle’. In her book Rebuilding Life after Brain Injury, she recalls the accident and its afterm… Serhii Plokhy at the Edinburgh International Book Festival ‘Heartbreaking stories of heroism’ set against a backdrop of ‘political cynicism and scientific ignorance'. That’s how judges described the winner of 2018's Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction – Serhii Plokhy’s Chernobyl: History of a Traged… Ma Jian talks to André Naffis-Sahely at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Exile in London hasn’t dulled Chinese author Ma Jian’s anger at the state which permanently banned his work over 30 years ago. His biting satire China Dream takes aim at Xi Jinping’s regime and the mistruths told by the Communist Party today, centri… Arundhati Roy with Nicola Sturgeon at the Edinburgh International Book Festival What did Arundhati Roy do between the publication of her Booker-winning debut The God of Small Things in 1997 and her extraordinary follow-up, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness two decades later? In a stunning new book of essays, we have the definitive ans… Derek Landy at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Skeleton detective Skulduggery Pleasant is back for an explosive twelfth escapade in Bedlam, which sees Valkyrie Cain embark on a lawless quest to save her sister’s soul and Omen Darkly attempting to save thousands of innocent lives. Derek Landy introdu… Jeanne Marie Laskas talks to DeRay Mckesson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Every day, President Obama received 10,000 letters from ordinary Americans; every night he read ten, and he wrote back. In To Obama, Jeanne Marie Laskas describes this unique correspondence, interviewing the letter-writers, White House staff and the Presi… Matt Haig at the Edinburgh International Book Festival The modern world can make us feel like the walls are closing in, but a vanguard of writers are here to help us cope – and none more so than Matt Haig. After the storming success of Reasons to Stay Alive comes Notes on a Nervous Planet, a wise and witty … Mike Berners-Lee talks to Tanya Steele at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Warnings of looming environmental catastrophe rain down on us with increasing frequency, and only the most ardent climate change sceptics deny we live at a crucial point for the Earth's future. For this event, filmed live at the 2019 Edinburgh Internation… Markus Zusak speaks to Janet Ellis at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Thirteen years since his multi-million bestseller The Book Thief, Markus Zusak joins fellow writer Janet Ellis for his first Book Festival appearance with his much-anticipated follow-up, Bridge of Clay. In this ambitious portrait of a family, Zusak introd… Julia Neuberger talks to Richard Holloway at the Edinburgh International Book Festival It’s clear that antisemitism remains a problem for British society. But recent headlines have brought more confusion than clarity in debates about the definition of what is understood by the word ‘antisemitic’. Westminster peer and West … Rachel Reeves at the Edinburgh International Book Festival In Women of Westminster, Labour MP Rachel Reeves tells the overlooked stories of leading and lesser known British politicians who have shaped a nation, from the earliest suffrage campaigns to Harriet Harman’s legislation on the gender pay gap. Reeves ta… Giles Yeo at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Whenever the latest dieting fad comes along, those promoting new theories are well fed on the proceeds, while many people trying to shed pounds are left wondering why nothing seems to work. Meet Giles Yeo, geneticist and presenter on BBC’s Trust Me, Iâ€â€¦ Kate Atkinson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Jackson Brodie is back, but this time he’s working as a private investigator in a sleepy seaside Yorkshire village. Life seems straightforward, until a chance encounter reveals the town’s seedy underbelly, bringing Brodie’s past screeching back into… Prue Leith at the Edinburgh International Book Festival If The Great British Bake Off is your first encounter with Prue Leith, you’ve missed a great deal. Founder of Leith’s School of Food and Wine, restaurateur, journalist, novelist and now TV judge – she is one of the nation’s most respected foodies.… Christopher Brookmyre at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Sixteen years on from the death of young Niamh on a holiday in Portugal, the glamorous Temple clan hold a fateful family reunion in Fallen Angel, Chris Brookmyre’s new standalone thriller. For Amanda, a neighbouring nanny, fascination gives way to suspi… Ibram X Kendi talks to Deray Mckesson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival We all occasionally do things that are racist, yet often fail to recognise them. Ibram X Kendi is a founding director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center in Washington DC. How To Be an Antiracist is his extraordinary, inspiring guidebook which he… Colson Whitehead talks to Kirsty Wark at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Following the success of his book The Underground Railroad – named by Barack Obama as one of the most important books of his presidency – Colson Whitehead's new novel The Nickel Boys sees the Pulitzer Prize winning author visit 1960s Florida, a period… Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 Highlights 20–23 August The Book Festival in full swing for the second week, in which we hear from Sue Perkins, Arundhati Roy, James Acaster and more… Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 Highlights 10–12 August The fantastic first few days featuring visits from Tim Winton, DeRay Mackesson, Malorie Blackman and more… Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 Highlights 17–19 August Another glorious weekend with events from Jack Monroe, Francesca Simon, Simon Armitage and more… Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 Highlights 24–26 August In the final days of another fantastic Book Festival we saw authors including Mary Robinson, Cressida Cowell, Colson Whitehead and more… Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 Highlights 13–16 August An unforgettable few days with appearances from Val McDermid, Chris Hoy, Konnie Huq and more… How to book on the first day of sales We're expecting a lot of demand for tickets on our opening day of sales (Tuesday 25 June in 2019). To give everyone a fair chance, there will be a queue to book at the counter, over the phone and on our website. If you plan to book online, this short vide… Join us this August at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Explore the world, in words at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. The biggest public celebration of words and stories in the world, the Book Festival takes place every August in the heart of Scotland's capital. With hundreds of events featurin… Your visit to the Edinburgh International Book Festival A video guide of the Book Festival Village showing you what to expect when you arrive at the Edinburgh International Book Festival… David Walliams (2018 Event) Britain's biggest author, David Walliams, brings his unique sense of humour to the Book Festival as he shares with you his latest hilarious bestseller, Bad Dad. Be inspired to get writing your own funny stories as David explains how he became the fastest … Neil Griffiths & Richard Powers (2018 Event) Considered by many to be one of America’s great literary voices, National Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Richard Powers presents The Overstory, his seductive and beguiling novel of interlocking stories (now also shortlisted for the 20… Rachel Kushner (2018 Event) Rachel Kushner’s much-anticipated follow-up novel to the dazzlingly successful The Flamethrowers is The Mars Room, a fearless and brutally honest portrayal of Romy, a woman starting a double life sentence in a US correctional facility, leaving her young… Robin Robertson (2018 Event) A renowned poet whose work often hauntingly evokes the lives of Scottish outsiders, and a mesmerising reader of his own work, Robin Robertson strikes out with a breathtaking new project, The Long Take. In this verse novel, Walker is a war veteran from Nov… Gina Miller (2018 Event) Gina Miller came to prominence when she successfully took the British government to the Supreme Court, challenging its authority to trigger Article 50, the formal notification to leave the EU, without parliamentary approval. Guyana-born Miller became the … Tony Juniper (2018 Event) It seems as if people have been trying to save the rainforests for a very long time. And while approximately half of their area has been effectively destroyed, it’s not too late to do the right thing by the other 50%. After all, it’s only the … Ruby Wax (2018 Event) Laughter is the best medicine, so thankfully comedian Ruby Wax has penned a witty follow-up to her bestselling book A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled, designed to help us live well. Armed with a degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy and a knack… Juno Dawson (2018 Event) As a School Role Model for the charity Stonewall, Juno Dawson is well versed in communicating the nitty gritty to young adults. She returns to the Festival with her razor sharp novel about one young girl's rise from the lows of heroin addiction. A gri… Sue Black with Val McDermid (2018 Event) Few people are as familiar with death as Professor Sue Black. As a forensic anthropologist she sees it in the form of human remains; at scenes of murder, at burial sites and in her lab. Black’s astonishing book, All That Remains, offers fascinating … Adam Kay (2018 Event) Working a 97 hour week doesn’t sound much fun for anyone, but when we’re talking about an NHS doctor, such a schedule could become a matter of life and death. In This is Going to Hurt, comedian and ex-junior doctor Adam Kay reflects on the oft… Chelsea Clinton (2018 Event) From Harriet Tubman to Oprah Winfrey, plenty of tenacious women have fought for freedom in America. Chelsea Clinton saluted them in her children’s book, She Persisted. Now, with She Persisted Around the World, Clinton celebrates women shaping global hum… Inua Ellams (2018 Event) A captivating hour with award-winning playwright and poet Inua Ellams as he performs selections from his 2017 Ted Hughes Award shortlisted work #Afterhours in this event recorded live at the 2018 Edinburgh International Book Festival. His residency at the… Susan Calman (2018 Event) The popular broadcaster, talented comedian and, as she recently demonstrated on Strictly, very nifty ballroom dancer is on a mission. With a culture of hatred and vitriol brewing in public and on social media, how can we stimulate more kindness in everyon… Jeremy Corbyn with Yanis Varoufakis (2018 Event) The remarkable transformation of the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn caught commentators by surprise. Against a backdrop of mainstream media scepticism, Corbyn galvanised his grassroots support and denied Theresa May an overall majority at the last elect… Ben Okri (2018 Event) Which came first, the image or the word? It’s hard to tell in The Magic Lamp, Ben Okri’s collaboration with painter Rosemary Clunie. Subtitled Dreams of Our Age, it’s a collection of twenty-five enchanting, haunting stories, each accompa… Richard Dawkins (2018 Event) Whatever your opinion of Richard Dawkins, and few people choose to sit on the fence when it comes to the world’s best-known evolutionary biologist, his passion for science cannot be denied. In Science in the Soul, he asks whether his discipline can … Yanis Varoufakis with Shami Chakrabarti (2018 Event) Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has written several influential books and has co-founded ‘DiEM25’, a pan-European progressive movement which will be competing in next year’s European parliament elections. Adults in th… Donal Ryan & Kamila Shamsie (2018 Event) Donal Ryan's novels are a thrilling journey into the psyche of everyday Irish folk, but From a Low and Quiet Sea departs from his previous three books by extending its setting beyond rural Ireland into war-torn Syria. Kamila Shamsie’s highly praised Hom… Alan Lee (2018 Event) In this global publishing event, return to Middle Earth in the company of Alan Lee. The illustrator of The Fall of Gondolin, the final book in the trilogy of Tolkien’s Middle Earth tales, Lee not only illustrates the beautiful editions of Tolkien's book… Sean Borodale & Ruth Padel (2018 Event) The exceptional emotional breadth of British poetry is on display in this event featuring Sean Borodale and Ruth Padel, recorded live at the 2018 Edinburgh International Book Festival. Borodale, described by Carol Ann Duffy as ‘the most exciting new… Rose McGowan (2018 Event) In 2018 the film industry, for so long a haven of misogyny and sexism, has found itself at the heart of a worldwide ‘cataclysmic global reckoning’, in which women everywhere are standing up defiantly against predatory male behaviour. In Brave, the Ame… Patrick Gale (2018 Event) Fans of Patrick Gale, and of Rough Music in particular, will be thrilled to learn that he launches his 16th novel, Take Nothing With You, in this conversation with Eleanor Updale recorded live at the 2018 Edinburgh International Book Festival. The story o… Dag Solstad (2018 Event) One of Norway’s most celebrated contemporary writers joins us with his latest novel, T Singer. Set in the small Norwegian town of Notodden, Dag Solstad's story is a heartbreaking account of love and loneliness, which lays bare the existential qu… David France (2018 Event) How to Survive a Plague is David France’s history of the fight against AIDS, the disease caused by HIV that has killed over 35 million people worldwide. Described as ‘subtle and searing', it won the Baillie Gifford Prize in 2017. In 2018, … Stuart MacBride with Stephanie Merritt (2018 Event) Just what does it take to write a page-turning bestselling crime novel? Dumbarton-born, Aberdeen-raised Stuart MacBride can offer plenty of advice on that front, given his Logan McRae series keeps on hitting the heights of popularity. Fellow writer Stepha… Shahad Al Rawi & Michael Donkor (2018 Event) Two coming-of-age tales come under the microscope in this event recorded live at the 2018 Edinburgh International Book Festival. Shahad Al Rawi’s poignant debut The Baghdad Clock (winner of the Book Festival's 2018 First Book Award) takes us back to 19… Gavin Francis (2018 Event) Following the resounding success of the bestselling Adventures in Human Being, Edinburgh-based GP and writer Gavin Francis turns his attention to Shapeshifters or more specifically, the ways in which human bodies are transformed throughout a lifetime. Cha… Miranda Kaufmann with Afua Hirsch (2018 Event) It’s a common misconception that black migration to Britain began with the Windrush in 1948. But as Miranda Kaufmann demonstrates in Black Tudors, many black Africans were warmly accepted into 16th century English society. What’s perhaps most … Pussy Riot's Maria Alyokhina with Yanis Varoufakis (2018 Event) 'To back down an inch is to give up a mile,' says Maria Alyokhina in Riot Days, her account of Pussy Riot’s extraordinary rise to infamy in 2012. Following an iconoclastic balaclava-clad performance in a Moscow cathedral, Alyokhina and two of her collab… Akala (2018 Event) Race and class have shaped the world of MOBO award-winning hip hop artist, poet and political commentator Akala. In Natives, his searing polemic on race in the UK, he considers his own experiences in both childhood and as an adult, and connects them to th… Guy Gunaratne & Imran Mahmood (2018 Event) Meet two new writers whose debuts are turning heads… Jo Nesbo (2018 Event) A former footballer, financial analyst and the lead singer of a chart-topping band in his homeland, Norway’s Jo Nesbo struck gold with the crime-writing career which has made his name. His latest bestseller, Macbeth, is a fresh take on Shakespeare&r… Richard Holloway (2018 Event) ‘Remember you will die’, said the slave to the Roman general. Richard Holloway’s new book, Waiting for the Last Bus, is a reflection on the final curtain we must all face. Thoughtful, engaging and often quietly moving, it’s a manua… Yanis Varoufakis with Shami Chakrabarti (2018 Event) Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has written several influential books and has co-founded ‘DiEM25’, a pan-European progressive movement which will be competing in next year’s European parliament elections. Adults in the Room was descri… Pussy Riot's Maria Alyokhina with Yanis Varoufakis (2018 Event) 'To back down an inch is to give up a mile,' says Maria Alyokhina in Riot Days, her account of Pussy Riot’s extraordinary rise to infamy in 2012. Following an iconoclastic balaclava-clad performance in a Moscow cathedral, Alyokhina and two of her collab… Ruth Jones (2018 Event) Acclaimed comedy actress and writer Ruth Jones has turned her talents to novel writing. Never Greener ponders the age-old question of whether the grass is a different shade on the other side. Kate had a fling in her early 20s with a married man and when t… Jo Swinson (2018 Event) As deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats and a former Government minister, Jo Swinson has seen all too clearly how power can be concentrated in the hands of men right across the business, cultural and political spectrum. Equal Power is the East Dunbarton… Zindzi Mandela with Allan Little (2018 Event) Zindzi Mandela is the youngest daughter of Nelson and Winnie Mandela. She has long been involved in South Africa’s freedom struggle and is currently serving as South Africa's ambassador to Denmark. In this frank interview with journalist and former BBC … Blake Morrison (2018 Event) The Sunday Times called him ‘One of our most sensitive and stylish writers’ and with his latest book, The Executor, it’s easy to see why. The bestselling novelist and poet Blake Morrison has created a biting portrait of male friendship, … Antony Beevor (2018 Event) The nation’s premier military historian has analysed conflicts in places that proved pivotal during the Second World War such as Berlin and Stalingrad. Now he turns to Arnhem, where Britain, America and the Netherlands tried in vain to thwart the Na… Graeme Macrae Burnet (2018 Event) The Scot who came to international attention when His Bloody Project was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, Graeme Macrae Burnet has followed up that astonishing success with an elegant and evocative thriller The Accident on the A35. Set in a sleepy to… David Walliams (2018 Event) Britain's biggest author, David Walliams, brings his unique sense of humour to the Book Festival as he shares with you his latest hilarious bestseller, Bad Dad. Be inspired to get writing your own funny stories as David explains how he became the fastest … Jasper Fforde (2018 Event) Jasper Fforde has spent years on the bestseller lists with his Thursday Next books. Now he’s written a standalone novel, Early Riser, creating a world where all humans hibernate except for the Winter Consuls. Fforde’s ability to write alternat… Akala (2018 Event) Race and class have shaped the world of MOBO award-winning hip hop artist, poet and political commentator Akala. In Natives, his searing polemic on race in the UK, he considers his own experiences in both childhood and as an adult, and connects them to th… Janice Galloway on Muriel Spark (2018 Event) As part of Muriel Spark's 2018 centenary celebrations, a series of tributes to the great Scottish writer have taken place. In this event, recorded live at the 2018 Edinburgh International Book Festival, Janice Galloway, the internationally-acclaimed S… Sophie Mackintosh & Leni Zumas (2018 Event) Fans of Naomi Alderman’s The Power will appreciate these ambitious political novels about women defying restrictions. Sophie Mackintosh’s The Water Cure centres on three women raised in total isolation and the men who come to find them. Leni Z… Gerda Stevenson (2018 Event) In histories written by men, good women have rarely been given much credit. In Scotland, there’s a growing urge to redress the balance and, with her new collection Quines, Gerda Stevenson has produced a very necessary corrective. These unforgettable… Limmy (2017 Event) The short, sharp and funny shock has been Brian Limond aka Limmy’s forte ever since breaking through with his World of Glasgow web series in 2006. After a Scottish BAFTA-winning TV show, Limmy has turned his attention to books of tiny tales (some hilari… Matt Haig (2017 Event) Acclaimed writer of novels and screenplays for adults and children, Matt Haig’s new book, How to Stop Time, was so heavily anticipated that Benedict Cumberbatch signed up to play the key role in the movie adaptation well before its actual publication da… Outriders: Jennifer Haigh & Malachy Tallack (2017 Event) As part of our Outriders project to explore the Americas, Boston novelist Jennifer Haigh travelled with Scottish writer Malachy Tallack on a journey that took in the Midwestern heartlands of Donald Trump’s USA. Starting in Fargo, they visited the si… Richard Ford with Kirsty Wark (2017 Event) Richard Ford is one of America’s greatest writers, capturing the changing face of the USA since the late 70s. He writes of the human condition with wit, passion and an uncanny observational eye. His beloved country has gone through seismic shifts in the… Stephen Baxter with Ken MacLeod (2017 Event) In the 1990s, Stephen Baxter won almost every award going for The Time Ships – the sequel to H G Wells’s The Time Machine. In this event, recorded live at the 2017 Edinburgh International Book Festival, he brings us his new book, The Massacre of Manki… Christine Otten & The Last Poets (2017 Event) The Last Poets were formed in the US in the late 1960s, a period full of hope and a time when the Black Panthers were at the height of their power. Their performance poetry has influenced generations of musicians, securing them the title of ‘the fou… Siri Hustvedt with Elif Shafak (2017 Event) From Dickens to Vermeer and psychoanalysis to neuroscience, Siri Hustvedt is a writer of remarkable range and insight. In this event, recorded live at the 2017 Edinburgh International Book Festival, she talks to acclaimed Turkish novelist and writer Elif … Meena Kandasamy & Helen McClory (2017 Event) Indian poet, novelist, activist and author of The Gypsy Goddess Meena Kandasamy has won many plaudits for her writing. In this event, recorded live at the 2017 Edinburgh International Book Festival, she discusses When I Hit You, a provocative examination … Jim Al-Khalili (2017 Event) For decades we’ve been told there's something out there. Jim Al-Khalili, host of Radio 4’s The Life Scientific and an inaugural winner of the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, has been gathering the latest word from within the science c… Harry Baker (2017 Event) Meet the man who is a World Poetry Slam Champion turned full-time poet via a maths degree. Following on from his debut collection, The Sunshine Kid, Harry Baker brings a selection of old favourites and brand new poems to this event recorded live at the 20… Sebastian Barry (2017 Event) Anyone who has heard Sebastian Barry read from his work knows he’s one of the best in the business. Anyone who has read Days Without End, his impossibly tender novel set in mid-19th century America, knows that it's another great work from the Costa Book… Ian Rankin (2017 Event) It's been 30 years since the publication of the first Rebus novel and what better way to celebrate that fact than with one of Scotland's most successful writers, Ian Rankin, who comes with his latest tale featuring the troubled Edinburgh cop. Rath… Jess Phillips (2017 Event) Journalist Julie Burchill calls her 'a breath of fresh air, with a dirty laugh'. In Everywoman, Labour politician Jess Phillips shouts long and loudly about the things she cares most about: poverty, equality, the rights of refugees and serving her Birming… Daniel Gray (2017 Event) Inspired by J B Priestley’s 1949 book Delight, Daniel Gray celebrates 50 reasons to love books in Scribbles in the Margins. His previous book, Saturday, 3pm, did something similar for football. Join the Edinburgh-based author and STV's People… Raja Shehadeh (2017 Event) Brave, intelligent and deeply personal, Where the Line is Drawn shows how the Israeli occupation affects every aspect of Palestinian daily life. Raja Shehadeh, Palestine's premier writer and essayist, winner of the 2008 Orwell Prize and founder of the hum… Jemima Foxtrot, Iona Lee, Sabrina Mahfouz & Sophia Walker (2017 Event) While comedy still struggles with gender equality, the spoken word scene is well used to its biggest, most exciting exports being female. Following in the footsteps of Kate Tempest and Hollie McNish, we bring you some of the most exciting new talents in s… Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie with Nicola Sturgeon (2017 Event) Dividing her time between Nigeria and the USA, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has become one of the world’s most internationally-respected authors. After three acclaimed novels including Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, her most recent title, Dear Ijeawal… Laird Hunt & Colson Whitehead (2017 Event) Two of the finest writers working in America today take a tour around the dark history of their country. Paul Auster called Laird Hunt's last novel Neverhome 'magnificent'; The Evening Road is his latest, which he discusses in this event, and … Harriet Harman (2017 Event) When Harriet Harman was elected in 1982, she notes in her memoir A Woman’s Work, the House of Commons was 97% male. Since then, she has led the way on all-women shortlists, introduced laws on equality and domestic violence and has twice become Labou… Andy Hamilton (2017 Event) Comic Andy Hamilton has most likely had you bent double with laughter. As well as appearances on panel shows like Have I Got News For You, he co-created Outnumbered and Drop the Dead Donkey, and has written for everything from Not the Nine O’Clock N… Andrew O'Hagan (2017 Event) In this keynote lecture recorded live at the 2017 Edinburgh International Book Festival, the country’s foremost essayist and one of our most astute commentators, Andrew O’Hagan, speaks for the first time on the future of Scotland and seeks to define t… Juliana Buhring (2017 event) Feats of human endurance never cease to amaze and enthral. In 2012, against all odds, Juliana Buhring became the first woman to circumnavigate the world on a bike, after very little training and with barely any financial backing. In this event filmed live… Robert Webb (2017 Event) What is it to be male? Peep Show actor Robert Webb reckons it involves a heap of unnecessary pressure applied from a very early age. With his call-to-arms memoir How Not To Be A Boy, Webb considers his own inculcation into the cult of man and how bending … Outriders: Harry Giles & Katherena Vermette (2017 Event) As part of our Outriders project to explore the Americas, poet Harry Giles travelled across Canada with Métis writer Katherena Vermette. Starting in Montreal amid the buzzy Quebecois writing scene, the two writers travelled to Winnipeg, where Lord Selkir… Charley Boorman (2017 Event) Motorcycle adventurer Charley Boorman experienced every rider’s worst fear when he was involved in a major road accident in 2016. Doubts were raised whether he would ever walk again, never mind get back on his bike, but in this event, recorded live … John Burnside (2017 Event) One of the most acclaimed writers of his generation, poet, memoirist and novelist John Burnside treats us to two new works. The hugely praised Ashland & Vine is the beautifully woven tale of an unlikely friendship between a grieving, semi-alcoholic widow … James Kelman (2017 Event) James Kelman, according to Alan Warner, ‘brings alive a human consciousness like no other writer can’. That’s true of his short stories as well as his novels, and is certainly true of his latest collection (his 13th) That Was a Shiver, and Other Sto… Marina Warner (2016 Event) Marina Warner's defining, shapeshifting presence in British literature finds new form in a book of short stories, Fly Away Home. Currently Professor of English at Birkbeck College, Warner was also chair of the Man Booker International Prize jury in 2015. … Outriders: Jennifer Haigh & Malachy Tallack (2017 Event) As part of our Outriders project to explore the Americas, Dakota-based novelist and environmental campaigner Jennifer Haigh travelled with Scottish writer Malachy Tallack on a journey that took in the Midwestern heartlands of Donald Trump's USA. Start… Outriders: Mariana Enriquez & Kevin MacNeil (2017 event) As part of our project to explore the Americas, Scottish novelist Kevin MacNeil travelled around Argentina with journalist, novelist and short story writer Mariana Enriquez. Starting in Buenos Aires, the writers set off in search of lost voices, both lite… Heather McDaid & Nicola Sturgeon with Elif Shafak (2017 Event) Elif Shafak understands the challenges of public intellectual life: she was wrongly accused of ‘public denigration of Turkishness’ for her novel The Bastard of Istanbul. In this event recorded live at the 2017 Edinburgh International Book Festival, sh… Alan Cumming (2016 Event) Dividing his time between New York and Hollywood, one of our best-kent Scottish actors has found himself at the centre of an impressive collection of scenes, scrapes and scraps in the world of showbiz. Alan Cumming has now gathered some of his best anecdo… Irvine Welsh (2016 Event) With The Blade Artist, Irvine Welsh returns to the vicious Trainspotting character who's emerged as the best reflection of our angry times. Robert Carlyle, who memorably played Begbie in the iconic movie, claims that 'small psychos are the best', and his … Conor Gearty & Douglas Murray (2017 Event) In The Strange Death of Europe, Douglas Murray travels from places where migrants land to places where they end up, talking to people who welcome them and others who don't, and finds a continent in a serious muddle. In On Fantasy Island, Conor Gearty,… Siri Hustvedt with Elif Shakaf (2017 event) From Dickens to Vermeer and psychoanalysis to neuroscience, Siri Hustvedt is a writer of remarkable range and insight. In this event recorded live at the 2017 Edinburgh International Book Festival she speaks to acclaimed Turkish novelist and writer Elif S… Outriders: Ximena Escalante & Stef Smith (2017 Event) As part of our project to explore the Americas, leading Mexican playwright Ximena Escalante travelled across Mexico with Scottish theatre writer Stef Smith. Starting in the US city of San Diego, they journeyed south across the Mexican border, making their… Simon Callow (2017 Event) As an actor, he’s played Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill and Gareth in Four Weddings and a Funeral. As an author, he’s written compellingly about Oscar Wilde, Peggy Ramsay and about Being an Actor. But that’s not the half of what Simon Callow has… Outriders: Ximena Escalante & Stef Smith (2017 Event) As part of our Outriders project to explore the Americas, leading Mexican playwright Ximena Escalante travelled across Mexico with Scottish theatre writer Stef Smith. Starting in the US city of San Diego, they journeyed south across the Mexican border, ma… Jim Al-Khalili (2017 Event) For decades we've been told there's something out there. Jim Al-Khalili, host of Radio 4's The Life Scientific and an inaugural winner of the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, has been gathering the latest word from within the s… Juno Dawson & C N Lester (2017 Event) What makes a woman a woman? Is it her biology? Is it a rite of passage? Is it society? As she transitions from male to female, Juno Dawson's The Gender Games explores feminism and femininity in culture, science and society. Co-founder of the first nat… Outriders: Mariana Enriquez & Kevin MacNeil (2017 Event) As part of our Outriders project to explore the Americas, Scottish novelist Kevin MacNeil travelled around Argentina with journalist, novelist and short story writer Mariana Enriquez. Starting in Buenos Aires, the writers set off in search of lost voices,… Jess Phillips (2017 Event) Journalist Julie Burchill calls her 'a breath of fresh air, with a dirty laugh'. In Everywoman, Labour politician Jess Phillips shouts long and loudly about the things she cares most about: poverty, equality, the rights of refugees and serving her Birming… Richard Ford with Kirsty Wark (2017 Event) Richard Ford is one of America’s greatest writers, capturing the changing face of the USA since the late 70s. He writes of the human condition with wit, passion and an uncanny observational eye. His beloved country has gone through seismic shifts in the… Jackie Kay with Nicola Sturgeon (2016 Event) Scotland's Makar, Jackie Kay, has a proud history of writing poetry about believable characters; ordinary people like herself. Her poems are genuine, open and often deeply personal. Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has long been an admirer of K… Aravind Adiga (2017 event) The last debut novelist to win the Man Booker Prize (in 2008 with White Tiger), Aravind Adiga now brings us Selection Day, widely held to be even better. In this event filmed live at the 2017 Edinburgh International Book Festival, he tells us about his st… Outriders: Harry Giles & Katherena Vermette (2017 Event) As part of our Outriders project to explore the Americas, poet Harry Giles travelled across Canada with Metis writer Katherena Vermette. Starting in Montreal amid the buzzy Quebecois writing scene, the two writers travelled to Winnipeg, where Lord Selkirk… Tim Burgess with Ian Rankin (2016 Event) In his memoir Telling Stories, Tim Burgess lifted the lid on life with The Charlatans and their experiences at the heart of the 1990s 'Madchester' scene. In this event, filmed live at the 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival, Burgess is joined by cr… Juliana Buhring (2017 Event) Feats of human endurance never cease to amaze and enthral. In 2012, against all odds, Juliana Buhring became the first woman to circumnavigate the world on a bike, after very little training and with barely any financial backing. In this event, recorded l… Paul Auster (2017 Event) The great American novelist makes his first ever appearance at the Book Festival. In 4 3 2 1, Paul Auster gives Archibald Isaac Ferguson, an only child, four different stories. Four Fergusons made of the same genetic material, four boys who are the same b… Kevin Barry (2016 Event) Kevin Barry’s Beatlebone won the £10,000 Goldsmiths Prize for ‘fiction at its most novel’. The phrase seems apt: even though this is a story built from familiar elements – an imagined John Lennon, post-Beatles in 1978, trying to pay a visit to an… Chris Brookmyre (2016 Event) For years he’s been regarded as one of Scotland’s best-loved and funniest crimewriters, but Chris Brookmyre’s critical reputation has also steadily grown over that same period and now he counts among the best-respected writers in his field. With Bla… Liz Lochhead (2015 Event) A hugely accomplished playwright, as well as Scotland’s current Makar (National Poet), watch as Liz Lochhead discusses her new play, Thon Man Molière, her fascination with the great French comic dramatist and his oeuvre, Greek tragedy, Schnit… Mark Haddon (2016 Event) First he found literary acclaim with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, then he struck gold with a National Theatre play based on the bestselling book. Now, Mark Haddon turns his hand to short fiction, and in this event recorded live at th… Cara Ellison & Simon Parkin (2016 Event) For years video games have been part of daily life and now two keen players have written insiders’ accounts that explore their effects. In this event, recorded live at the 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival, Cara Ellison (a ‘cyberpunk hair-dye… Philippe Sands (2016 Event) There is no lawyer quite like Philippe Sands QC. Outspoken on a range of human rights issues, from the illegality of the Iraq war to torture in the Bush administration, the Professor of Law at University College London is also a highly respected barrister… Hadley Freeman (2016 Event) For many, the 80s was a decade that taste didn’t just forget, but totally bypassed. Guardian and Vogue columnist Hadley Freeman does not subscribe to that one bit and is so passionate about 80s American movies that she’s written a book about them. Lif… Billy Bragg (2016 Event) From ‘A New England’ to ‘Levi Stubbs’ Tears’, Billy Bragg’s songs have captured the mood of modern Britain. Since politics and pop became entwined in the anti-Thatcher Red Wedge movement of the 80s, Bragg’s voice … Alaa Al Aswany (2016 Event) In 2002, The Yacoubian Building was an international bestseller, establishing Alaa Al Aswany as one of the Arab world’s most influential voices. Since then, Egypt has changed radically. However, Al Aswany’s novel The Automobile Club of Egypt represent… Charles Fernyhough (2016 Event) Two years ago, authors at the Book Festival took part in a major study into the multiple inner voices that make up human consciousness. Now the leader of that project, psychologist Charles Fernyhough, has completed a major book on the subject, which he di… Alexander Masters (2016 Event) In 2001, almost 150 tattered notebooks were discovered in a skip in Cambridge. They were a small part of an intimate diary that began in 1952 and ended half a century later. It took Alexander Masters five years to uncover the identity and real history of … James Kelman (2016 Event) With the publication of Dirt Road, Scotland’s only Booker Prize winner James Kelman joins a Scottish publisher for the first time in decades. This brilliantly accessible road movie of a novel arrives with Canongate’s typical panache, alongside a film … Chris Packham (2016 Event) As the presenter of BBC's Springwatch, Chris Packham has become one of the nation’s favourite naturalists. But Packham was far from popular as a child: in his brave and lyrical memoir, Fingers in the Sparkle Jar, he recalls life as a solitary child, com… Cecilia Ekbäck & Graeme Macrae Burnet (2016 Event) In the mid-19th century, what unites the Sami people of Lapland and a band of crofters in north-west Scotland? In the fictional worlds of Cecilia Ekbäck and Graeme Macrae Burnet, each community has witnessed a brutal triple murder. Ekbäck’s In The Mon… Frederick Forsyth with Ian Rankin (2016 Event) It's hardly surprising that Frederick Forsyth has wild stories to tell, given his past as an RAF pilot and investigative journalist, but the thriller writer spins such ripping yarns in his dashing autobiography, The Outsider, that a Sunday Times critic de… Packie Bonner (2016 Event) The idea that footballers stay with one club throughout their career is almost laughable in these cash and ego-driven times. But Patrick ‘Packie’ Bonner was one such man, keeping goal for Celtic across three decades while making a global name for hims… Tom Lanoye & James Yorkston (2016 Event) Two doppelgänger Belgian exiles are on the run in Tom Lanoye’s latest novel, Fortunate Slaves. When they finally meet they realise that each could hold the solution to the other's problems. James Yorkston is familiar as one of Scotland’s finest singe… Highlights of the 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival In August 2016, the Edinburgh International Book Festival welcomed over 800 writers, illustrators, poets, politicians and philosophers from 55 countries to Charlotte Square Gardens in a packed programme of passionate ideas, engaged debates and pure entert… Nina Stibbe (2016 Event) Already a wildly popular author thanks to her memoir Love, Nina and bestselling debut novel, Man at the Helm, Nina Stibbe returns with Paradise Lodge. Set in a 1970s ramshackle old people's home, this lovingly created story of chaos, love and elderly peop… Michael Frayn (2015 Event) With Matchbox Theatre, Michael Frayn has produced perhaps his most daringly unusual book to date. Blurring the boundary between the page and stage, the brilliant author and playwright has produced a book of thirty short entertainments that function both a… Richard Coles (2015 Event) He was once part of 1980s pop duo The Communards but later resurrected his career as the Reverend Richard Coles, and is currently tending to his flock in a parish in Northamptonshire. In Fathomless Riches, he explains how he reconciled his old life i… Sam Baker & Carol Birch (2016 Event) Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist Carol Birch presents her new book Orphans of the Carnival, which features powerful female characters separated by centuries and continents. Meanwhile, former editor of RED magazine and co-founder of The Pool, Sam Bake… Ben Rawlence (2016 Event) Dadaab Refugee Camp in Northern Kenya has existed for 25 years. Originally created for 90,000 Somalian refugees it now contains over 350,000 people, including 10,000 third-generation inhabitants. Over a period of four years, Ben Rawlence explored this ext… Sarah Howe & William Letford (2016 Event) We were thrilled to open the 2016 Festival with two of the most powerful young voices in British poetry. Sarah Howe's debut collection Loop of Jade won the 2016 T S Eliot Prize for Poetry and was described as ‘original, exquisite, erudite and adventurou… Alan Johnson (2015 Event) Amid a slew of politicians’ memoirs in recent years, Alan Johnson’s This Boy was comfortably among the finest: one critic called it ‘the best political testament I’ve ever read’. Now the former Home Secretary returns with a s… Chris Packham (2016 Event) As the presenter of BBC's Springwatch, Chris Packham has become one of the nation’s favourite naturalists. But Packham was far from popular as a child: in his brave and lyrical memoir, Fingers in the Sparkle Jar, he recalls life as a solitary child, com… Jonathan Safran Foer (2016 Event) The bestselling US author of Everything is Illuminated launches. Jonathan Safran Foer’s Here I Am is the story of a fracturing New York family, set against the backdrop of a much wider catastrophe as an earthquake engulfs the Middle East, sparking a… Malcolm Rifkind (2016 Event) As the longest serving minister of the 20th century, Defence Minister and Foreign Secretary in Thatcher’s government and more recently Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Malcolm Rifkind has witnessed the monumental political moments of recent times… Mervyn King (2016 Event) Nearly a decade after the Great Recession of 2007-09, banking may have become one of the world’s less popular professions, but has the financial system itself actually changed much? If not, what corrections to banking and financial practice do we ne… Steve Sem-Sandberg and Sjón (2016 Event) Meet two of Europe's most talented novelists. Swedish writer Steve Sem-Sandberg’s The Chosen Ones follows his towering novel The Emperor of Lies in describing brutality and tenderness in the Nazi era – this time in a home for sick children in Vienna. … Laura Bates (2016 Event) The founder of the influential online project Everyday Sexism, Laura Bates was in the 2014 Woman's Hour Power List Game Changers Top 10 and is becoming well known for her refusal to accept the female stereotypes peddled by a normative mainstream media. In… Edna O'Brien (2016 Event) Philip Roth called it Edna O’Brien’s masterpiece; for John Banville it’s savage, tender and true; Claire Messud described it as arduous and beautiful. The Little Red Chairs is the work of a truly great Irish writer at the height of her powers. A dec… Hadley Freeman (2016 Event) For many, the 80s was a decade that taste didn’t just forget, but totally bypassed. Guardian and Vogue columnist Hadley Freeman does not subscribe to that one bit and is so passionate about 80s American movies that she’s written a book about them. Lif… Mark Beaumont (2016 Event) What next for endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont after smashing the record for riding solo round the world and then riding the length of the Americas? For his biggest challenge yet, the indefatigable Scot set out to ride from Cairo to Cape Town – the entir… Mark Billingham with Val McDermid (2016 Event) With over three million copies of his books sold to date, Mark Billingham’s career as a novelist has been a slam-dunk success. And he’s back for more with Die of Shame, his smartest, most unusual thriller to date. When six people meet each week to dis… Janet Ellis and Lorna Gibb (2016 Event) Two debut novels whose lead characters will entrance, unnerve and delight feature in this event recorded live at the 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival. Evoking the blood, filth and beauty of Georgian London, Janet Ellis’ The Butcher’s… Jonathan Safran Foer (2016 Event) The bestselling US author of Everything is Illuminated launches his first novel in 11 years. Jonathan Safran Foer’s Here I Am is the story of a fracturing New York family, set against the backdrop of a much wider catastrophe as an earthquake engulfs the… Chris Riddell (2016 Event) Award-winning author Siobhan Dowd died in 2007, bequeathing her royalties to a trust which aims to bring the joy of reading to those who need it most. In 2016, the Book Festival's Siobhan Dowd Trust Memorial Lecture was delivered by Children's Laureate, C… William McIlvanney (2013 Event) Two years ago, fans flocking to see William McIlvanney at the Book Festival shared his exasperation that his seminal crime novels were out of print. Attending that event was Francis Bickmore, editorial director of Canongate, who immediately took action… Laura Bates (2016 Event) The founder of the influential online project Everyday Sexism, Laura Bates was in the 2014 Woman's Hour Power List Game Changers Top 10 and is becoming well known for her refusal to accept the female stereotypes peddled by a normative mainstream media… Paul Morley (2016 Event) Earlier this year, the jubilation upon the arrival of David Bowie’s new album, Blackstar, quickly turned to shock and grief with the announcement of his death. A true and rare musical icon, Bowie influenced generations of artists. Paul Morley, musician,… Kenny MacAskill (2016 Event) In 2009, then Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill controversially granted the release on compassionate grounds of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only man ever convicted for the Lockerbie Bombing in 1988. Now MacAskill has written his own account of the terroris… Nina Stibbe (2016 Event) Already a wildly popular author thanks to her memoir Love, Nina and bestselling debut novel, Man at the Helm, Nina Stibbe returns with Paradise Lodge. Set in a 1970s ramshackle old people's home, this lovingly created story of chaos, love and elderly peop… Reverend Jesse Jackson (2015 Event) One of the best-respected and most formidable civil rights activists of the 20th century, the Reverend Jesse Jackson worked for Martin Luther King in the 1960s. During his later political career, he specialised in high-profile international diplomacy, neg… Miranda Sawyer (2016 Event) Mid-life crises arrive at different times for different people. For journalist and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer, hers made its presence felt at the age of 44. Out of Time is Sawyer’s investigation of this most challenging of life moments, and in this even… Eimear McBride (2016 Event) A Girl is a Half-formed Thing was one of the most exciting breakthrough debut novels of recent years. Irish novelist Eimear McBride’s second book emphatically lives up to expectations and confirms her as a writer of international significance. The Lesse… A C Grayling (2015 Event) A Professor of Philosophy, A C Grayling believes that his subject shouldn’t float above in an ivory tower, but take an active role in society. His most recent published works have looked at the world in a time of war and perpetual conflict. Whether … Val McDermid with Nicola Sturgeon (2015 Event) The Diamond Dagger-winning Fifer has built a vast fanbase over the years thanks to her number one bestselling novels that have sold over 11 million copies. One of Val McDermid’s better known readers is Scotland’s First Minister and here watch … Michel Faber (2016 Event) The acclaimed author of Under the Skin and The Book of Strange New Things reads from a collection of deeply moving poems entitled Undying. In tender, bittersweet verse, Michel Faber grieves for his wife Eva who died in 2014 after a six year battle with ca… A.C. Grayling 'The Legacy of a Complex Man' (2016 Event) Best known for sci-fi novels such as The Time Machine and The Invisible Man, H G Wells also wrote numerous non-fiction works. His wide-ranging ideas pre-dated many modern concerns, including the internet and the black civil rights movement. Yet Wells was … George The Poet (2015 Event) George Mpanga is the 24 year old Cambridge-educated wordsmith who has attracted attention and accolades with his socio-political verse and urban beats, including a nomination for the BBC Music Sound of 2015. Born to Ugandan parents and brought up in Londo… James Kelman (2016 Event) With the publication of Dirt Road, Scotland’s only Booker Prize winner joins a Scottish publisher for the first time in decades. This brilliantly accessible road movie of a novel arrives with Canongate’s typical panache, alongside a film adaptation of… John Boyne & Simon Mayo (2016 Event) We were delighted to welcome John Boyne with his latest novel The Boy at the Top of the Mountain and Simon Mayo with Blame back to Charlotte Square Gardens. In this event, filmed live at the 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival, they examine ideas o… David Millar (2016 Event) Those lucky enough to witness David Millar’s spellbinding Book Festival event in 2011 will recall the athlete’s forthright admissions about calorie counting, secret doping and quirky camaraderie on the pro cycling circuit. Now he's back with The Racer… Sophie Kinsella (2016 Event) Global bestselling author of the Shopaholic series, Sophie Kinsella, brings her first novel for teens. Audrey can't leave the house. That is until her brother's friend Linus comes along and starts to teach her that even when you think you have lost yourse… Howard Jacobson (2015 Event) A welcome return to Charlotte Square Gardens for the winner of the Man Booker Prize 2010 who was also shortlisted last year for his acclaimed Huxley-esque dystopian drama, J. Recently, Howard Jacobson has been reflecting in the media on one of his early n… Gregor Fisher & Melanie Reid (2016 Event) Gregor Fisher may be best known as Rab C Nesbitt, the funniest string-vested street philosopher in all of Govan, but his own life story is far from amusing. His upbringing was a tale of secrets, deception, tragedy, rejection and death, and only now has he… Limmy (2015 Event) His first book was called Daft Wee Stories, but Brian Limond, aka Limmy, has been making a big splash for some years now. Having emerged with his online series of dark yet oddly loveable Glasgow characters, he has taken the next step by creating the BAFTA… Mary Costello & Han Kang (2015 Event) 'Heartbreaking' and 'packed with emotional intensity' say the reviewers about Mary Costello's stunning debut novel Acedemy Street, while Han Kang's The Vegetarian is lauded by critics as 'haunting', 'seductive' and … Anthony Seldon & Peter Snowdon (2016 Event) Did David Cameron’s early years in power reveal him as an ‘essay crisis’ leader, or an ambitious reformer? Enjoying unprecedented access to Cameron and his team, Anthony Seldon and Peter Snowdon have written Cameron at 10, an eye-opening authorised … Shirin Ebadi (2016 Event) The first Muslim woman and first Iranian to win a Nobel Peace Prize, Shirin Ebadi is a leading lawyer and activist who has campaigned fearlessly for freedom of speech and equality before the law in her country, despite being betrayed politically and perso… Erica Jong (2016 Event) Back in 1973, Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying introduced the beguiling Isadora Wing and her idea of ‘zipless’ no-strings-attached sex. The book became a bestselling icon of the sexual revolution. Now, in this event recorded live at the 2016 Edinburgh In… Interview - Innu Poetry from the Canadian Tundra (2015) Before their very special event with three Innu writers from the Canadian Tundra, Anna Crowe, Rachel McCrum and J L Williams took a few moments to share with us this deeply moving and inspiring translation project. Also hear from some audience members to … Caroline Lucas (2015 Event) In Honourable Friends? the first UK Green MP, Caroline Lucas reveals the secret workings of parliamentary life and suggests that we could be governed so much better. As a lone voice at her workplace, Lucas is the perfect outsider – ideally positione… Malachy Tallack & Kathleen Winter (2015 Event) How do northern landscapes affect the people who live in them? Malachy Tallack’s Sixty Degrees North includes interviews and observations in places which share the same latitude, from Shetland to Scandinavia and as far as Alaska. Canadian writer Kat… Etgar Keret and Alain Mabanckou (2015 Event) Two internationally acclaimed novelists who have turned their hands to memoir talk to Nick Barley, director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Etgar Keret was declared ‘a genius’ by the New Yorker: The Seven Good Years, translated i… What Is the 21st Century Doing to our Teenagers (2015 Event) Nicola Morgan, author of Blame My Brain and The Teenage Guide to Stress, reveals the science and psychology of teenage brains and the many challenges adolescents face, such as exams, friendships and anxiety disorders. Morgan believes that books can help u… Making Meaning of the Voices (2014 Event) People with severe mental health issues are often stigmatized by society. From drugs to psychiatry, solutions are complex and expensive. Eleanor Longden, a voice hearer and a qualified psychologist joins James Ley, a playwright who explores his bi-polar d… Jesse Jackson (2015 Event) One of the best-respected and most formidable civil rights activists of the 20th century, the Reverend Jesse Jackson worked for Martin Luther King in the 1960s… The Siobhan Dowd Trust Memorial Lecture: Matt Haig (2015 Event) Award-winning author Siobhan Dowd died in 2007, bequeathing her royalties to a trust which aims to bring the joy of reading to those who need it most. In 2015 the Siobhan Dowd Trust Memorial Lecture was delivered by novelist Matt Haig, whose books for chi… Terry Waite (2015 Event) As special envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Terry Waite spent plenty of time not only in the company of Robert Runcie, but also his son James. Then, he was kidnapped in Beirut. Upon his release, Waite continued his charity work, befriended his forme… Val McDermid with Nicola Sturgeon (2015 Event) The Diamond Dagger-winning Fifer has built a vast fan-base over the years thanks to her number one bestselling novels that have sold over 11 million copies… Leila Aboulela & Alessandro Gallenzi (2015 Event) Born in Sudan and for many years a resident of Aberdeen, Leila Aboulela injects a healthy dose of Scotland into her latest novel, The Kindness of Enemies. It opens in Scotland in 2010, and then journeys back to a time of war in 19th century Russia. Mean… Johann Hari (2015 Event) It’s a century since drugs were first banned in the United States, thus unleashing a war against narcotics that has raged ever since. Journalist Johann Hari conducted a three-year investigation into the reality of drugs and now presents Chasing the … Interview - Sophie McKenzie and Salla Simukka (2015) We talked about the complexities of writing young adult fiction and creating female characters with best known author Sophic McKenzie and newly translated Finnish writer Salla Simukka before their event together. Also hear from one of our young audience m… Interview - Helle Helle (2015) We were delighted to meet the wonderful Danish writer Helle Helle before her Book Festival event in Charlotte Square Gardens to talk about her first novel to be translated into English, This Should Be Written in the Present Tense. We asked some audie… Jussi Adler-Olsen (2015 Event) We were thrilled to welcome bestselling Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen to the Book Festival's home in Charlotte Square Gardens for the first time. The creator of the Department Q novels has sold over 10 million copies of his books worldwide; watch as… Shami Chakrabarti with Kate Mosse (2015 Event) A day after Shami Chakrabarti joined the campaigning organisation Liberty, New York’s Twin Towers were attacked. Ever since, she has fought a passionate campaign for human rights… Julia Donaldson and Peter May (2015 Event) With the domination of the English language in publishing, we can often overlook what happens beyond our borders. How does a writer's work travel to other nations? How do authors keep ownership of their translations? Watch two of our finest literary e… Alan Johnson (2015 Event) Amid a slew of politicians’ memoirs in recent years, Alan Johnson’s This Boy was comfortably among the finest: one critic called it ‘the best political testament I’ve ever read’. The former Home Secretary returns to the Book … Why I Call Myself a Feminist (2015 Event) In this event entitled “a Rally, a Rant, a Story, a Song, a Protest, a Poem”, women – and men – take to the mike for five minutes each to tell us why they call themselves feminists. Authors Val McDermid, Christopher Brookmyre, Elif… Blood and Secrets with Sophie McKenzie and Salla Simukka (2015 Event) In All My Secrets by Sophie McKenzie, the search to uncover the truth becomes life threatening, after a young woman discovers the shocking reality behind a huge inheritance. Finnish writer Salla Simukka's As Red As Blood, translated into English by Ow… Chen Guangcheng (2015 Event) The blind Chinese dissident and human rights activist, Chen Guangcheng, escaped house arrest in Dongshigu and sought refuge in the US Embassy in 2012. Here he speaks about his memoir, The Barefoot Lawyer, in which he reveals his view of the flawed diploma… Jussi Adler-Olsen (2015 Event) Bestselling Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen arrived in Charlotte Square Gardens for his first appearance in Edinburgh, delighting fans and newcomers to his work. The creator of the Department Q novels has sold over 10 million copies of his books worldwide… Chigozie Obioma & Simon Sylvester (2015 Event) Chigozie Obioma’s thrillingly assured debut novel The Fishermen is set in small-town Nigeria, while Simon Sylvester’s seductive debut The Visitors unfolds on a remote Scottish island. Yet despite their disparate locations, these stories are un… Innu Poetry from the Canadian Tundra (2015 Event) When the Book Festival invited three writers from the First Nation Innu people of Northern Canada to present their work in Edinburgh, three Scotland-based poets were invited to work with them. In this collaboration, which will also result in Anna Crowe, R… Limmy (2015 Event) Appearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival for the first time with his first book, Daft Wee Stories, Brian Limond, aka Limmy… Monica Cantieni and Sunjeev Sahota (2015 Event) Watch two authors who explore the immigrant experience powerfully in their unforgettable new novels. Monica Cantieni’s The Encyclopaedia of Good Reasons, translated by Donal McLaughlin, tells the deeply moving story of a young girl’s long wait… Meera Syal (2015 Event) Acclaimed actor, screenwriter and author of Life Isn’t All Ha Ha Hee Hee, Meera Syal returned to Edinburgh for the first time since 2000 to discuss her new novel. The House of Hidden Mothers moves between East London’s Little India and a villa… David Reynolds (2015 Event) Watch David Reynolds discuss his journey to discover whether the American Dream is keeping its sheen with Sheena McDonald. In Slow Road to Brownsville, Reynolds embarks on a fascinating road trip along 2,000 miles of Highway 83, a road that starts in Cana… Etgar Keret & Alain Mabanckou (2015 Event) Hear two internationally acclaimed novelists who now turn their hands to memoir. Etgar Keret was declared ‘a genius’ by the New Yorker: The Seven Good Years, translated into English… Interview - Jussi Adler-Olsen (2015) Bestselling Danish crime writer and creator of the Department Q novels Jussi Adler-Olsen joined us for a quick chat in Charlotte Square Gardens before his event. We also asked some of his fans what they thought about what he had to say. You can see Jussi&… Interview - David Crystal (2015) Top linguist David Crystal took a moment before his event to talk with us about accents, language and how it's changing in the 21st Century. We also chatted to his fans after the event to see what they thought. You can see David's hour-long event … Cédric Villani (2015 Event) Forget about the maths you learned at school; the charismatic Cédric Villani has a gift for revealing the beauty and magic of mathematics at the highest level. Dubbed a ‘rock-star mathematician’, the French winner of the maths world&rsq… Joanne Harris (2015 Event) With The Gospel of Loki, Joanne Harris has made a highly successful move from Vianne and the Chocolat novels, to something altogether more elemental. With Loki, Harris takes on the heroes and villains of the great Norse myths in her characteristically e… Libraries in the Digital Age (2015 Event) With the world’s knowledge accessible from anywhere via a computer screen, why should we continue to value physical spaces for literacy? In this discussion, recorded live… Interview - Julia Donaldson and Peter May We caught up with brilliant and best known writers Julia Donaldson and Peter May to talk writing and translation, which was the subject of their joint event in Charlotte Square Gardens. We also asked some audience members what they thought about the event… The Literacy Revolution (2015 Event) According to UNESCO, every region of the world during the last 20 years has seen gains in literacy rates, but the situation remains highly uneven. To what extent can this improvement be attributed to the urbanisation of populations across the world and th… Rory MacLean (2015 Event) When the USSR dissolved in 1991, a narrow sliver of land next to the Ukraine declared independence. Transnistria now has its own Leninist government, but is still not recognised by any other country in the world. Photojournalist Nick Danziger and author R… Interview - Esther Gerritsen & Amy Mason (2015) Dutch writer Esther Gerritsen and Britain's Amy Mason joined us for a chat about writing the universal theme of mothers and daughters before their joint event in Charlotte Square Gardens. You can also hear from a real life mother and daughter from the… George the Poet (2015 Event) George Mpanga is the 24 year old Cambridge-educated wordsmith who has attracted attention and accolades with his socio-political verse and urban beats, including a nomination for the BBC Music Sound of 2015… Alan Cumming with Ian Rankin (2015 Event) Two of Scotland’s most successful creative talents hook up for this unmissable event. Alan Cumming made waves with a memoir about his tough upbringing, Not My Father's Son, the details of which… Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Bidisha (2015 Event) Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is one of Britain’s most important commentators on multiculturalism: in Exotic England she describes ‘a curious nation’ that has developed thanks to its long history of immigration. Bidisha is a writer and human righ… Interview - Rory MacLean (2015) We spoke to Rory MacLean about his wild adventures journeying in Transnistria before his event in Charlotte Square Gardens. We also asked some audience members what they thought about the event. You can see Rory's hour-long event here on our website a… Helle Helle (2015 Event) In Denmark, Helle Helle’s novels have garnered a mixture of critical acclaim, literary awards, and popularity with readers. Now, the highly-respected Danish author’s work has been translated into English for the first time by Martin Aitken. … John Burnside and Jon Kalman Stefansson (2015 Event) Award-winning poet and novelist John Burnside and acclaimed Icelandic novelist Jón Kalman Stefánsson got together with interviewer Daniel Hahn to talk about their new books and explore why contemporary writers turn to the stuff of legend for… Ryan Gattis and Marlon James (2015 Event) Images of the 1992 LA riots were beamed across the world as six days of violence left a city bruised and broken. In All Involved, Ryan Gattis concocts a novel from separate voices of those whose story wasn’t told. The 1976 attempted murder of Bob Ma… John Boyne (2015 Event) Author of multi-million bestseller The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, John Boyne has unleashed his next book for younger readers, Stay Where You Are and Then Leave. It tells the story of a boy's search for his father during the First World War. For adult… Interview - Etgar Keret and Alain Mabanckou (2015) Warm, funny and incredibly moving, we spoke to international writers Etgar Keret and Alain Mabanckou in Charlotte Square Gardens before their event about the enduring meaning of home. We also spoke to some audience members to see what they thought about t… Interview - Malachy Tallack & Kathleen Winter (2015) Journeys through northern landscapes are fascinating to writers on both sides of the Atlantic, and we spoke to Malachy Tallack, originally from Shetland, and Canadian writer Kathleen Winter to compare notes. Also hear from some audience members to see wha… Aleksandar Hemon & Elif Shafak (2015 Event) As a multilingual writer, does the language you choose to write in matter? Does it change who you are and who you are writing for? Does the omnipotence of global English dominate regardless? Elif Shafak is an acclaimed author who writes in both Turkish an… Edwyn Collins & Grace Maxwell with Ian Rankin (2015 Event) ‘Moving beyond words’ was one critic’s response to The Possibilities Are Endless, a documentary charting Edwyn Collins’ return to relative good health after two massive strokes in 2005. That film, and a recent book, were the subjec… Joe Sumner & Evie Wyld (2015 Event) Evie Wyld is fast shooting to international fame as a novelist. Already the winner of Australia’s prestigious Miles Franklin Prize for All the Birds, Singing, her writing career takes a thrilling new turn in a graphic memoir, Everything Is Teeth, th… Interview - Ghada Karmi (2015) Ghada Karmi joined us in Charlotte Square Gardens for a sneak preview of her event about returning to her homeland of Palestine after many years of exile, which she has documented in her new book, Return: A Palestinian Memoir. You can see Ghada's hour… Interview - John Burnside & Jon Kalmar Stefansson (2015) Bringing myths and fables together from Scotland and Iceland, we caught up with writers John Burnside and Jón Kalman Stefánsson before their joint event in Charlotte Square Gardens. Afterwards we asked fans what they thought about the event.… Greg Proops (2015 Event) Greg Proops is well-known for his appearances on the improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and for his hit podcast The Smartest Man in the World. Downloaded over 9 million times, it’s a weekly online radio show recorded live from different loc… Jenny Erpenbeck with Michel Faber (2015 Event) If you only read one novel this year, make it The End of Days. A book that takes a series of surprising turns, it confirms German author Jenny Erpenbeck as ‘one of the finest, most exciting authors alive’. That reviewer was fellow novelist Mic… Interview - Joanne Harris (2015) Hugely popular writer Joanne Harris took a moment before her event in Charlotte Square Gardens to talk to us about her new Norse inspired novel, The Gospel of Loki. We also spoke to some audience members to see what they thought about her event. You can s… Tom McCarthy (2015 Event) Is Tom McCarthy a J G Ballard for the 21st century? Or is he just bullshitting? McCarthy would probably claim he’s somewhere in between. The Man Booker shortlisted author’s hugely entertaining, densely imaginative novel Satin Island introduces… Interview - Ella Frances Sanders & Dominick Tyler (2015) Before they took to the stage to talk about their new books, language enthusiasts Dominick Tyler and Ella Frances Sanders joined us in Charlotte Square Gardens for a sneak preview. Also hear from some audience members to see what they thought about the ev… David Hare (2015 Event) One of the most celebrated writers of his generation, David Hare’s notable plays include Plenty, Skylight and The Absence of War. In this event, recorded live at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Hare discusses his powerful and often very f… SJ Watson (2015 Event) S J Watson can count Dennis Lehane and Lionel Shriver among his fans for his crime debut Before I Go to Sleep, which was later made into a movie with Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman. The Midlands-born author opens up a shadowy world of identity, lies and se… Ghada Karmi (2015 Event) When she was forced to leave Palestine in 1948, for Ghada Karmi it meant that she would spend most of her life away from her native land. In Return: A Palestinian Memoir, Karmi describes visits to places she hasn’t seen since her childhood; places t… Interview - Leila Aboulela & Alessandro Gallenzi (2015) Two brilliant international writers, Sudan's Leila Aboulela and Italy's Alessandro Gallenzi, chatted to us about their new books before their joint event in Charlotte Square Gardens. After their event we asked some audience members what they thoug… Viv Albertine with Ian Rankin (2015 Event) ‘You’re in for a hell of a ride now,’ says Viv Albertine in Clothes, Music, Boys. And she’s dead right: with breathtaking honesty, Albertine… The Siobhan Dowd Trust Memorial Lecture: Matt Haig (2015 Event) Award-winning author Siobhan Dowd died in 2007, bequeathing her royalties to a trust which aims to bring the joy of reading to those who need it most. This year the Siobhan Dowd Trust Memorial Lecture was delivered by novelist Matt Haig, whose books for c… Ella Frances Sanders & Dominick Tyler (2015 Event) The mysterious beauty of certain words joins Ella Frances Sanders and Dominick Tyler at the literary hip, as their separate glossaries reveal. Sanders’ Lost In Translation is a beautifully illustrated book which contains a selection of wholly untran… Amit Chaudhuri (2015 event) In Amit Chaudhuri’s entertaining latest novel, Odysseus Abroad, an aspiring poet named Ananda has arrived in London from India and is trying to make sense of what he sees. Chaudhuri crafts a sharply-observed world, inspired as much by James Joyce&rs… Has Psychiatry Silenced God? (2014 Event) Throughout history, divine intervention has influenced great artists, thinkers and leaders, and the voice of God is a distinct and separate presence in the minds of many people today. Author and former Bishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway leads this discu… Kirstin Innes (2015 Event) Winner of the Guardian’s Not the Booker prize, Kirstin Innes’ bittersweet debut, Fishnet takes us deep into the world of sex workers, tracing one woman’s obsessive quest for answers following her sister’s mysterious disappearance. … Henrietta Bowden-Jones, Erin Saltman & Ã…sne Seierstad with Lennie Goodings (2015 Event) What draws women to the extremes of war? Åsne Seierstad, acclaimed author of The Bookseller of Kabul and a seasoned war reporter, talks about being on the frontline; Erin Saltman, Senior Counter Extremism Researcher from the Institute for Strategic … Interview - Sergio Gonzalez Rodriguez & Juan Villoro (2015) It was an absolute privilege to meet these two incredibly brave Mexican journalists, Sergio González Rodríguez and Juan Villoro, before they took to the stage with the infamous Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco. Don't take it from us though,… Interview - Elif Shafak (2015) Writing in multiple languages was the subject of the day, and we caught up with Turkish writer Elif Shafak before she took to the stage with fellow multi-lingual writer Aleksandar Hemon. We also asked some audience members what they thought about the even… Monica Cantieni & Sunjeev Sahota (2015 Event) Watch two authors who explore the immigrant experience powerfully in their unforgettable new novels. Monica Cantieni’s The Encyclopaedia of Good Reasons, translated by Donal McLaughlin, tells the deeply moving story of a young girl’s long wait… Interview - David Reynolds (2015) We had a quick chat with the brilliant writer David Reynolds about his fascinating journey down Highway 83 before his event in Charlotte Square Gardens. Find out from some audience members to see what they thought about the event. You can see David's … Museums and Libraries (2015 Event) Museums and galleries dominate as destinations, attracting record numbers of visitors to blockbuster shows. Meanwhile libraries are facing a funding crisis and are increasingly asked to justify their existence. What can libraries learn from museums, and w… Helen Macdonald (2014 Event) In her powerful, emotive memoir, H is for Hawk, Helen Macdonald recounts her obsessive pursuit to become a falconer. Following the shock of her father’s death and inspired by T H White’s The Goshawk, she embarked on a journey to train her own … Julian Barnes (2015 Event) One of our finest writers, Julian Barnes first wrote about art in his novel A History of the World in 10½ Chapters. Since then, the Man Booker Prize-winning author has written a series of scintillating essays on a range of artists as diverse as G&e… The Principle of Capitalism (2014 Event) As part of a series of events examining the key ideas that have shaped the human race, sociologist Saskia Sassen, research director in international economics at Chatham House Paola Subacchi and professor of political economy Robert Skidelsky joined James… Esther Gerritsen & Amy Mason (2015 Event) The complex relationship between mothers and their daughters is at the heart of writing by bestselling Dutch author Esther Gerritsen and emerging talent Amy Mason. Both Gerritsen’s razor-sharp third novel Craving, translated into English by Michele … Interview - Monica Cantieni (2015) Immigration and belonging are the chief subject of new novels by writers Monica Cantieni and Sunjeev Sahota. We spoke to Monica before their event to find out more, and we also heard from some audience members to see what they thought about the event. Mon… David Crystal (2015 Event) A linguist and an expert on the development of the English language, David Crystal presents two books that tell us a great deal about English as it is spoken in the 21st century. You Say Potato looks at accents and our different ideas about ‘correct… Interview - Amit Chaudhuri (2015) Before he took to the stage to talk about his latest novel, Odysseus Abroad, Amit Chaudhuri joined us for a quick chat in Charlotte Square Gardens. You can also hear from some audience members to see what they thought about the event. Amit's hour-long… Kate Tempest with Don Paterson (2015 Event) Still in her twenties, the ferociously-talented Kate Tempest has been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, won the Ted Hughes Prize for innovation in poetry and secured a novel contract with Bloomsbury… Hyeonseo Lee (2015 Event) As a child of Kim Il-sung’s North Korea, a teenage Hyeonseo Lee believed the Dear Leader was her saviour, even holding on to that faith after she’d fled the country to live with relatives in China. Subsequently, Lee fought for the rest of her … Mexican Writing, An Insider's View with Gabriel Orozco - Essays (2015 Event) Artist Gabriel Orozco brings us two of Mexico's most highly-respected and best-known authors. Sergio González Rodríguez is a novelist and essayist famous for his groundbreaking writing about the serial murders of young women in the Ciuda… Paul Merton (2015 Event) Not Always Clowning Around. One of the most intelligent and likeable comics in the land, Paul Merton has had his fair share of darkness and tragedy… George RR Martin (2014 event) Game of Thrones author George R R martin describes how he feels about the screen incarnations of his books… Melissa Benn (2014 event) Airbrushed supermodels, unrealistically skinny celebrities, casual sexism in the media. Why, despite everything, are women still not paid equally or properly represented on corporate boards? These are the questions posed by Melissa Benn in her book What S… Michael Morpurgo (2014 event) Only Remembered is a timeless and seminal anthology of First World War literature for children, edited by Michael Morpurgo and featuring artwork from renowned illustrator Ian Beck. In this event, recorded live at the 2014 Edinburgh International Book Fest… John Gordon Sinclair (2014 event) Two years ago John Gordon Sinclair made his crime-writing debut and now he’s back wrapping a grim tale around the CIA, Serbian gangs and a feisty Glaswegian lawyer with his second novel, Blood Whispers. Hear how Sinclair created a central character … Holly Baxter and Rhiannon Cosslett (2014 event) Co-founders of The Vagenda blog, journalists Rhiannon Cosslett and Holly Baxter ended up with an instant hit; the blog received over 7 million views in year one and has received votes of approval from the likes of Caitlin Moran and Laurie Penny. In this h… Diana Gabaldon (2014 event) The Outlander books by Arizona-based author Diana Gabaldon have achieved sales figures that would make your eyes water. Little wonder that Doune Castle was recently besieged by fans keen to see the TV version being filmed. The latest instalment, Written i… Stripped Comic Fair Film 2013 Stripped mini comic fair: Scotland's finest comics creators come to Charlotte Square Gardens… Martin Amis (2104 Event) The last time Martin Amis wrote about the Holocaust was in 1991 in his novel Time’s Arrow. Now he returns to the subject with the much-anticipated The Zone of Interest. In this event, recorded live at the 2014 Edinburgh International Book Festival, … Mai Al-Nakib & Tom Barbash (2014 event) Our 2014 First Book Award-winner Kuwaiti author Mai Al-Nakib comes together in this event with bestselling San Francisco writer Tom Barbash to talk about their brilliant, moving short-story collections… Interview - Holly Baxter and Rhiannon Cosslett (2014) Creators of The Vagenda blog, Rhiannon Cosslett and Holly Baxter chatted to the Book Festival just before their sold-out event - talking about the blog and campaigning new book. You can also watch their hour-long event, filmed live at 2014 Edinburgh I… Holly Baxter & Rhiannon Cosslett (2014 event) The Vagenda Blog creators, young journalists Rhiannon Cosslett and Holly Baxter discuss the site, their campaigning new book and how they turn a cacophony of negativity about women into something incredibly positive… Irma Kurtz (2014 event) For four decades, the Cosmo Agony Aunt has been helping to solve readers’ problems, encompassing everything from eating disorders to bad behaviour in the office. In My Life in Agony, In this event, recorded live at the 2014 Edinburgh International B… Bonnie Greer (2014 event) Best known in the UK as a dispassionate commentator on BBC Newsnight Review and Question Time – even when sitting beside the leader of the BNP – Bonnie Greer has now written the first volume of her memoirs, A Parallel Life. In this event she t… Malala Yousafzai (2014 event) Inspirational education activist and Pakistani school pupil, Malala Yousafzai came to the Edinburgh International Book Festival to talk to a packed theatre full of teenagers.  â€¦ Interview - Bonnie Greer (2014) We caught up with the wonderful Bonnie Greer before her Book Festival event for a quick chat about the first volume of her memoirs, A Parallel Life. You can also see her hour-long event, filmed live at Edinburgh International Book Festival, here on our we… Highlights of the 2014 Edinburgh International Book Festival Just a few of the highlights of the 2014 Book Festival - what a wonderful year we had!… Iain Mcwhirter (2014 event) His book Road to Referendum is a clear-minded history of Scotland’s journey towards its historic vote in September, and Iain Macwhirter argues that after the poll, constitutional change is inevitable. If so, where will the negotiations between Holyr… Omid Djalili (2014 event) Acclaimed comedian and actor Omid Djalili has produced a joyously funny memoir about growing up and finding fame as a young Iranian in London. He beautifully captures his unique childhood in his parents’ guesthouse, describing meetings with an array… Interview - Charlie and Robbie (2014) Dream team comics creators Charlie Adlard and Robbie Morrison have made their contribution to the Great War centenary with their frank graphic novel White Death. This is a quick interview with the pair before they took to the stage at Edinburgh Internatio… Leigh Bargudo and Maureen Johnson (2014 event) Two of the most exciting voices in fantasy writing travelled across the pond to appear at the Edinburgh International Book Festival to talk about their books for young adults. Leigh Bardugo's debut series, The Grisha Trilogy, is set in an alternative … Alasdair Gray (2014 event) Hear the inimitable Alasdair Gray talking about his almost-autobiography, his masterpiece Lanark and his meetings with other literary figures at the Book Festival… Omid Djalili (2014 event) Acclaimed comedian and actor Omid Djalili has produced a joyously funny memoir about growing up and finding fame as a young Iranian in London. He beautifully captures his unique childhood in his parents’ guesthouse, describing meetings with an array… Interview - Melissa Benn (2014) Melissa Benn was in Edinburgh to talk about her book What Should We Tell Our Daughters? and took time out for a quick chat before her event at the Book Festival. You can also watch Melissa Benn's full hour-long event, recorded live at the 2014 Edi… Interview - Diana Gabaldon (2014) Before she took to the stage to thrill fans of her massively successful Outlander book series, Diana Gabaldon took a little time for a quick chat in Charlotte Square Gardens. You can also see her hour-long event, filmed live at the 2014 Edinburgh Inte… Bonnie Greer (2014 event) Best known in the UK as a dispassionate commentator on BBC Newsnight Review and Question Time, even when sitting beside the leader of the BNP, Bonnie Greer has now written the first volume of her memoirs, A Parallel Life. In this event, recorded live at t… David Peace (2014 event) Yorkshire-born David Peace’s writing took an exciting turn with GB84, his ambitious novelisation of events during the miners’ strike. Later, Peace turned to football, first with The Damned United, a re-imagining of Brian Clough’s brief t… The Principle of Religion (2014 event) Richard Holloway, Rowan Williams, Rchard Sennett and Angela Zito explore the key ideas that have shaped humanity. In this event: the ideas and impact of religious belief… John Gordon Sinclair (2014 event) John Gordon Sinclair continues to put distance between himself and Gregory’s Girl, the film that made his name. Two years ago he made his novel-writing debut and his second book, Blood Whispers wraps a grim tale around the CIA, Serbian gangs and a f… Charlie Adlard & Robbie Morrison (2014 event) Graphic novel dream team Charlie Adlard and Robbie Morrison came to Edinburgh to talk about White Death, a frank graphic novel account of two dead bodies discovered almost 100 years on which highlights how snow was used as a military weapon. In this event… The Voices in Our Heads: Creating Characters in Fiction (2014 event) The first sign that a book works is when the characters talk back to their author, and books can represent our internal voices unlike any other art form. A panel of award-winning novelists, Nathan Filer, Edward Carey and Matthew Quick talk about their rel… Gordon Brown (2014 event) Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown talks about his new bestseller My Scotland, Our Britain: A Future Worth Sharing… Interview - Billy Collins (2014) He’s twice been poet laureate in the US and says he hopes his poems ‘begin in Kansas and end in Oz’. Now Billy Collins returns with Aimless Love, his first collection of new and selected poems for 12 years. Elegant, poignant and thrillin… Stripped Highlights Film 2013 Stripped: When comics and graphic novels were laid bare at the Book Festival… Gerry Hassan & Lesley Riddoch (2014 event) Two of Scotland's outspoken commentators reflect on what might happen next in Scotland, after the independence referendum on 18 Sept… William Fotheringham (2014 event) Long before Bradley Wiggins took the world by storm, British cycling already had a hero. Tom Simpson was world champion and the first Briton to wear yellow in the Tour de France. In 1967 he died during a stage of the Tour while climbing the monstrous Mont… Blake Morrison (2014 event) Best known for As If, his landmark book about the killing of James Bulger, Blake Morrison is also a poet and novelist. He joined us to read from a new publication, This Poem. Bankers’ bonuses, phone hacking, super-injunctions and Jimmy Savile: these… Lynn Barber (2014 event) Fearsomely incisive interviewer and journalist Lynn Barber faced a Twitter storm after an article on tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, but anonymous cyberhate is nothing for someone who has taken on the likes of Gore Vidal, James Stewart and Salvador Dali. I… Interview - Karl Ove Knausgaard (2014) In this Interview, filmed at Edinburgh International Book Festival in August 2014, Norwegian literary sensation Karl Ove Knausgaard chats briefly about being a writer, doing author events and about Boyhood Island, the third book in his epic and much-discu… Zakes Mda (2014 event) Winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, Zakes Mda is regarded as one of the most important novelists to have emerged on South Africa’s literary scene since the end of apartheid. The author of more than 20 novels and plays, Mda is now reside… Nicholas Parsons (2014 event) The much-loved radio show Just a Minute has been delighting listeners for 46 years and every single episode of the programme has been hosted by Nicholas Parsons. Now, Parsons has produced his first book about Britain’s longest-running radio comedy s… Oscar Guardiola-Rivera (2014 event) Colombian-born writer Oscar Guardiola-Rivera’s riveting Story of a Death Foretold lays bare the Cold War paranoia and rabid anti-communism which led to the downfall of Salvador Allende, Latin America’s first democratically-elected Marxist pres… Interview - Leigh and Maureen (2014) We caught up with two top US writers of fantasy fiction for young adults, Leigh Bardugo and Maureen Johnson, in Charlotte Square Gardens for a quick chat just before their event at the 2014 Edinburgh International Book Festival. You can also watch their h… Karl Ove Knausgaard (2014 event) Norwegian literary sensation Karl Ove Knausgaard has been gathering an ever-increasing band of avid followers with his epic and much-discussed six-volume novel cycle, My Struggle. ‘It’s completely blown my mind… I need the next volume l… The Moth (2014 event) To celebrate the UK launch of their first book, which collects together 50 of their best stories, we invited The Moth, the legendary US storytelling organisation, to create a special one-off evening of stories inspired by our strand of events, Conversatio… Billy Collins (2014 Event) Billy Collins has twice been poet laureate in the US and says he hopes his poems ‘begin in Kansas and end in Oz’. Aimless Love, his first collection of new and selected poems for 12 years, is elegant, poignant and thrillingly accessible. In th… Maggie O'Farrell (2014 event) Acclaimed Edinburgh-based Maggie O’Farrell talks about how she constructed her sixth novel, Instructions for a Heatwave… Interview - Omid Djalili (2014) Acclaimed comedian and actor Omid Djalili talks about his joyously funny memoir about growing up as an Iranian in London in this interview at the 2014 Edinburgh International Book Festival. You can also watch his sold-out Book Festival event, filmed l… Charlie Adlard and Robbie Morrison (2014 event) Dream team Charlie Adlard and Robbie Morrison came to Edinburgh to talk about White Death, a frank graphic novel account of two dead bodies discovered almost 100 years on, and highlighting how snow was used as a military weapon. In this event, filmed live… EWWC Feature Film … Diana Gabaldon (2014 event) The Outlander books by Arizona-based author Diana Gabaldon have achieved sales figures that would make your eyes water. Little wonder that Doune Castle was recently besieged by fans keen to see the TV version being filmed. The latest instalment, Written i… Joe Sacco (2013 event) Previous books such as Footnotes In Gaza established Joe Sacco’s international reputation as the world’s leading comics journalist…… The Beano (2013 event) Morris Heggie and Mike Stirling of DC Thomson take a fun-filled journey through the long and illustrious history of the Beano… Stephen Collins & Tom Gauld (2013 event) Two critically acclaimed Guardian cartoonists delve into their charmingly surreal comic worlds… UNBOUND: Kristin Hersh Founder of iconic alt-rock band Throwing Muses, lead singer of the punk-tinged 50 Foot Wave, revered solo artist and now author… Salman Rushdie (2013 event) In 1983, Salman Rushdie was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for his novel Shame and named among Granta’s inuagural Best of Young British Novelists… Bryan & Mary Talbot (2013 event) Bryan and Mary Talbot talk about their award-winning work which brought the graphic novel form to mainstream attention… Robert Lewis (2013 event) A decade ago, the death of Dr David Kelly shook the country and for a moment threatened to topple a Blair administration already reeling from dissent against the war in Iraq… Chris Ware (2013 event) In Chris Ware’s first appearance at the Book Festival he discussed his critically acclaimed graphic novel Building Stories and why comics are a language, not a genre…… UNBOUND: The Paris Review Pioneers of extraordinary literature since 1953 impart literary wisdom from across the AtlantiC… Kristen Iversen (2013 event) Riveting and horrifying in equal measure, Kristen Iversen’s memoir of growing up next to the Rocky Flats nuclear facility near Denver, Colorado describes the secrecy… Nadeem Aslam (2013 event) Described by Colm Tóibín as ‘one of the most exciting and serious writers working in Britain now’, Nadeem Aslam’s new book will undoubtedly build his reputation still further… UNBOUND: Electric Lit Orchestra Writers’ Bloc are modern day champions of the Scottish literary tradition the fantastique, and offer weird and wonderful tales… UNBOUND: Words Per Minute Performers got 10 mins to impress with whatever creative talent they could offer in this event… Hadley Freeman (2013 event) Guardian journalist Hadley Freeman is known for her hugely entertaining daily columns. Now she has produced Be Awesome, a book of heart-warming but razor sharp essays… UNBOUND: Five Dials Five Dials, an online literary magazine, brought Book Festival audiences some of its leading lights in literature for an evening… Susan Greenfield with Kirsty Wark (2013 event) She’s the Professor of Pharmacology at Oxford University and has been awarded no fewer than 30 honorary degrees for her work. Baroness Susan Greenfield has risen to… Jonathan Agnew (2013 event) There are many, including Jonathan ‘Aggers’ Agnew, who would agree that cricket is more than just a game. Controversy has dogged the sport throughout its history… Amy Sackville and Evie Wyld (2013 event) Her debut The Still Point was inspired by the Arctic, and Amy Sackville heads north again with her second novel, Orkney, which confirms that this startlingly original writer is… Joe Sacco and Chris Ware (2013 event) Two of the world’s best graphic novelists reveal the processes behind their first class comic creations… Jura Unbound: Illicit Ink & Graphic Scotland (2013 event) Graphic Scotland and Illicit Ink joined forces to combine stories from the page with illustrators on the stage in this lively, late night Jura Unbound event…… Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie (2103 event) Long-time collaborators Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie shed light on the processes behind their critically acclaimed Young Avengers series… UNBOUND: Cargo Special Delivery Joining (parcel) forces were Radio 4 favourite Anneliese Macintosh and novelists Allan Wilson and Tracey S Rosenberg… UNBOUND: Dummy Jim Artist Matt Hulse and actor Samuel Dore enchanted with live music, readings, puppetry and elaborate knitwear, all devoted to the story of deaf cycling… Nate Silver (2013 event) Statistician, political forecaster and creator of the New York Times blog FiveThirtyEight, Nate Silver shot to world fame when he predicted the outcome of all 50 states in the 2012 US Elections… Tracey Thorn (2013 event) Sitting at home in 2005, Tracey Thorn realised she was no longer happy to be part of the show business feeding frenzy and decided to tell her story… Ma Jian (2013 event) Ma Jian’s criticisms of China’s government led to it placing a blanket ban on all his future books in 1987. He participated in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, and now… Kay Ryan (2013 event) Kay Ryan is widely regarded as one of America’s great living poets. Her book The Best of It: New and Selected Poems won her the Pulitzer Prize in 2011… Grant Morrison (2013 event) King of the Scottish comics scene talks about his extraordinary career… Jenn Ashworth and Peggy Riley (2013 event) Brought up as a Mormon, Jenn Ashworth has since become a powerful voice in British fiction. She returned to Edinburgh with her third novel, The Friday Gospels, the story… Jane Gardam (2013 event) Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and twice the winner of a Whitbread Award, Jane Gardam also received a Heywood Hill Literary Prize for her distinguished literary career… Damian Barr (2013 Event) In his effervescent memoir Maggie and Me, journalist, writer and gifted storyteller Damian Barr explains how his family, living in the shadow of Ravenscraig, learned to thrive… Joe Sacco & Chris Ware (2013 event) For the first time, two of the world’s best graphic novelists, Joe Sacco and Chris Ware, appeared together on stage to discuss their work and life as a cartoonists…… UNBOUND: The Golden Hour A hellacious hybrid of rakish words and eclectic music: Ryan Van Winkle, Joe Dunthorne, Kelly Link and roofing poet William Leftford… Tim Burgess with Ian Rankin (2013 event) Tim Burgess’ rock and roll battles and the death of keyboard player Rob Collins are among the events in The Charlatans’ front man’s upbeat memoir, Telling Stories… Jura Unbound: Literary Death Match (2013 event) Four talented author-illustrator teams pit their live storytelling skills against one another in this all-star cartoon caper version of the legendary Literary Death Match… UNBOUND: Literary Death Match Four writers used words as weapons in a fight to the literary death. Host Todd Zuniga returned to Edinburgh from New York for the 160th anniversary… Rupert Everett (2013 event) It’s taken the entertainment world six years to recover from Rupert Everett’s first memoir Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins and now he’s back on raucously top form with Vanished Years… George Monbiot (2013 event) Among George Monbiot’s diverse interests are paleoecology, pruning, heritage apples, chalk streams and Bill Hicks. Nobody could accuse the Guardian columnist of blindly following the pack… The Sandman with Neil Gaiman (2013 event) Neil Gaiman talks to Hannah Berry about the hugely influential comics series The Sandman…… Tracy Chevalier (2013 event) Her novel based on a famous Vermeer portrait sold a staggering 4 million copies worldwide and put Tracy Chevalier straight into the international literary premier league… James Kakalios (2013 event) Charismatic scientist puts the fun into quantum physics in this witty and engaging event… Charles Fernyhough and Ben Marcus (2012 event) From Gulliver’s Travels to 1984, dystopian visions have shaped literary fiction. Why do these flights of fancy influence our reality?… Pat Barker (2012 event) Her books include the highly acclaimed Regeneration trilogy: Regeneration (made into a film of the same name), The Eye in the Door (winner of the Guardian Fiction Prize) and The Ghost Road (winner of the Booker Prize)… Nile Rodgers (2012 event) He may be best known for the disco hit Le Freak but Nile Rodgers’ influence on pop music has been so very much greater than that… Maggie Fergusson & Michael Morpurgo (2012 event) He's a master storyteller who has left an indelible mark on countless children who’ve grown up with his stories… Danny Wallace (2012) Well where do we start? From reviewing videogames for Sega Power, judging Edinburgh’s Perrier Comedy Awards… Danny Wallace (2012 event) In his non-fiction work, he’s tried to start a new country and helped a comedy friend find as many of his namesakes as possible. Now Dundee-born Danny Wallace… Debate: Rethinking the Union, Part 2 (2012 event) The outspoken former Labour MP and Cabinet Minister Tony Benn, joined Dr Nicola McEwen, Director of Public Policy… William Fotheringham (2012 Event) Cycling was a hot topic during the summer of 2012, with British success in the Olympics and the Tour de France… Michael Palin (2012 event) The last time Michael Palin appeared at the Edinburgh International Book Festival was in 1987, when it was directed by Jenny Brown… Ian McEwan with Alex Salmond (2012 event) According to Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, his eclectic cultural interests range from Miss Marple… Frank Close with Peter Higgs (2012 event) The race to identify the Higgs Boson has led to multi-billion dollar investment in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The return promise… Elif Shafak (2012) Elif Shafak’s novel Honour is a moving account of love and family set in Kurdistan, Istanbul and London… Michael Sandel (2012) In his book, What Money Can't Buy, Michael Sandel examines one of the biggest ethical questions of our time… Robert Macfarlane (2012 event) In The Old Ways, shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson prize, the celebrated author Robert Macfarlane sets off from his Cambridge home… Colm Toibin (2012 event) A writer absolutely at the height of his powers, Colm Tóibín is known for his stunning novels such as Brooklyn and… Dyslexia debate (2012 event) In this event, recorded live at Edinburgh International Book Festival, prolific children’s writer Vivian French… Michael Frayn (2012 event) The Man Booker-shortlisted and Whitbread-winning author of Headlong and Spies travelled to Edinburgh to discuss his latest novel… Lydia Cacho (2012) A Mexican writer and journalist, Lydia Cacho's courage knows no bounds in her battle to bring an end to illegal sex trafficking… Paul Durcan (2012 event) 'If there were a prize for best reader of one’s own poems, Paul Durcan would probably win it hands down,' proclaimed the… Simon Mayo (2012 event) The award-winning broadcaster has been listened to by millions who rely on his insightful film reviews and music choices… Jennifer Rohn & Neal Stephenson (2012 event) Science fiction writing is readily dismissed as mindless escapism but in fact it is a hugely influential and creative genre… Hilary Mantel (2012 event) The first woman to win the Booker twice talks to James Runcie about her work in this event, recorded live at the 2012 Edinburgh Intenational Book Festival… Nile Rodgers (2012) He may be best known for the disco hit Le Freak but Nile Rodgers’ influence on pop music has been so very much greater than that… Neil Forsyth (2012 event) Broughty Ferry's fictional hero Bob Servant was brought to life by Greg McHugh (aka Gary Tank Commander) in a sell-out performance. Since then… Coraline with Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell (2012 event) To mark the 10th anniversary of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, Chris Riddell has created beautiful, atmospheric and unsettling illustrations for a new edition… What Comes Next? (2012 event) Acclaimed author Keith Gray has edited an anthology of stories by leading writers looking at where we go when we die, entitled Next… Jacqueline Wilson (2012 event) In 1902, E Nesbit published Five Children and It, which has never been out of print. Jacqueline Wilson, the highly acclaimed author of Tracey Beaker… Neil Forsyth (2011 Event) The BBC Radio adaptation of Forsyth's Delete This at Your Peril catapulted the fictional Dundonian anti-hero Bob Servant to national attention. Servant's habit of responding to junk emails and striking up a relationship with… Chan Koonchung (2011 event) Is it possible to live in China today, and to raise an eyebrow about the country’s political ambitions? Chan Koonchung does precisely that… James Robertson reading The Future According to Luke The winner of the Saltire Book of the Year award in 2010 reads his new story on the theme of Elsewhere… Michel Faber reading A Flash of Blue Light Hear the bestselling author of The Crimson Petal and the White read his new story inspired by the theme of 'Elsewhere'… Neil Gaiman with Audrey Niffenegger (2011 event) It’s ten years since the publication of the landmark American Gods, a book that brought Gaiman to international fame. One reviewer even lauded him thus: ‘Saying Neil Gaiman is a writer is like saying Da Vinci dabbled in the arts.’… Ed Stourton (2011 Event) When you hear that a book by a renowned journalist and broadcaster is subtitled ‘Time Spent Following a Lead’, you might assume it’s a memoir concerning the pursuit of headlines. But Diary of a Dog Walker is in fact Stourton’s tale/tail of going o… Robin Robertson reading Partytime The Scottish award-winning poet reads his brand new work on the theme of Elsewhere… Michael Scheuer (2011 event) The death of Osama bin Laden in May 2011 marked a key moment in the history of the so-called War on Terror. But Michael Scheuer, formerly the chief of the CIA unit responsible for capturing the elusive Saudi, believes bin Laden’s death will make no diff… Gill Arbuthnott reading Marilyn's Hands Listen to the author of the gripping Germ Wars and The Keepers Daughter and many other novels and fact-filled books based around science, as she reads her contribution to… Michel Faber (2011 Event) The astonishing, triumphant television adaptation of Michel Faber's novel The Crimson Petal and the White represents a radical new step for the previously tired costume drama genre. In this event, Faber discussed his book with Lucinda Coxon,… Richard Bath and Tommy Macpherson (2011 event) Rugby writer Richard Bath has tackled a very different kind of battle in aiding Sir Tommy Macpherson with his memoir, Behind Enemy Lines. Britain’s most decorated living war hero with three Military Crosses,… Neil Gaiman with Audrey Niffenegger (2011 event) American Gods author talks Americana, myth and fantasy with fellow enthusiast Audrey Neffenigger… Niall Ferguson (2011 Event) Are we living through the dying embers of Western ascendancy? For Scottish historian and broadcaster Niall Ferguson, the ‘killer applications’ test is the best way to measure our status with the rest of the world… Eleanor Thom reading Sassuolo The young Glasgow-based writer reads her contribution to our Elsewhere project - a collection of new writing on the theme of Elsewhere… Jo Nesbo (2011 Event) Jo Nesbø, the king of Nordic crime fiction, came to Edinburgh to discuss his latest thrilling work, The Leopard… Robert Coover (2011 Event) The reissue of his early novels as Penguin Classics in 2011 underlines his status as a giant of American literary postmodernism. Stories like Spanking the Maid, Gerald's Party and Pricksongs and Descants show that a mordant… Barry Hutchison reading The Unclaimed Girl Author of the Invisible Fiends horror series for children, Barry Hutchison here reads his story on the theme of Elsewhere… Yiyun Li reading A Tale of Two Cities The brilliant young Chinese-American writer reads her short story on the theme of Elsewhere… David Almond reading Paper Boat Paper Plane Multi-award-winning children's author reads his story on the theme of Elsewhere… Ben Mezrich (2011 Event) His last book was adapted to become The Social Network, one of the most successful movies of 2010. Mezrich then turned his attention to another strange-but-true American tale in his novel Sex on the Moon… Rodge Glass reading After Drink You Can Turn Earth Upside Down The versatile and entertaining Somerset Maugham Award-winner Rodge Glass reads his story on the theme of Elsewhere… Audrey Niffenegger (2011 event) Michigan-born writer and artist, and one of our guest selectors, Audrey Niffenegger is the author of the runaway bestseller The Time Traveler’s Wife. In this event she chats about her various books, the most recent of which is a graphic novel, The Night… Pamela Stephenson-Connolly (2011 event) Her book is certainly engaging but can it live up to the claims that it is the most enlightening book on sex ever published? Pamela Stephenson-Connolly's event threw up some surprises at the Book Festival in 2011… Jen Hadfield Reading From My Vow Hear this talented young author read her new work From My Vow, part of our series of stories and podcasts on the theme of Elsewhere… Roddy Doyle reading Los San Patricios Roddy Doyle reading his story Los San Patricios (note: contains strong language). Part of an engaging series of podcasts of leading… Dragons and Fairies with Julia Donaldson (2011 event) The opening event at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival drew huge crowds of 5-9 year olds and their families to see the inimitable and forever-entertaining newly appointed Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson… David Vann reading Bain de Soleil Young award-winning US author David Vann reads his story on the theme of Elsewhere… Alan Hollinghurst (2011 Event) It's many years since Alan Hollinghurst's last novel, The Line of Beauty, was published – a story so powerful that it beat David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas to win the 2004 Booker Prize. His follow-up, The Stranger's Child,… Louise Welsh reading Vanishing Point The popular Scottish novelist reads her exclusive short story as part of our Elsewhere series of podcasts… John Hartson (2011 Event) The explosively talented Welsh footballer John Hartson enjoyed success with Arsenal and West Ham before becoming a striker for Celtic, where he scored more than 100 goals in a glorious five year period… Alan Warner reading Sullivan's Ashes Man Booker longlister and Morvern Callar author reading his new story on the theme of Elsewhere… John Fardell: The Day Louis Got Eaten (2011 Event) In this fun, interactive event for 4-10 year olds, award-winning author-illustrator John Fardell introduced his new picture book The Day Louis Got Eaten and talked about his artwork, sketches and models… Melvyn Bragg (2011 Event) Since its publication in 1611, the King James Bible has been the world’s number one bestseller. But the book has become a story in itself. It has been the Bible of wars from the British Civil War to the American Civil War… Ingrid Betancourt with Kirsty Wark (2011 Event) When Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt went on the campaign trail in 2002, she could not have imagined that it would end in a kidnapping and six year incarceration at the hands of guerrilla forces… Michael Ondaatje (2011 Event) The hotly-anticipated novel Cats Cradle is without question Michael Ondaatje's finest to date. Launched worldwide at this event, recorded live at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival, he tells the… Alasdair Gray (2011 event) Thirty years ago Lanark was published, which confirmed Alasdair Gray as the most ferociously inventive Scottish writer of his generation. His output since then has been characterised by a close relationship between his writing… John Byrne (2011 event) Painter and set designer, playwright and novelist, John Byrne is one of Scotland’s great polymaths. Best known for his plays the Slab Boys Trilogy and Tutti Frutti, Byrne has also designed record sleeves for Donovan and The Beatles… Jason Donald reading Puerta Galera Listen to acclaimed author of Choke Chain read his story Puerta Galera, part of a series of podcasts… Wendy Cope (2011 Event) The poetry of Kent-born Cope has charmed readers ever since her first collection, Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis… Cathy Cassidy (2011 event) In this exciting event Cathy Cassidy gave a sneak preview of her brand new book, Marshmallow Skye… Denise Mina reading We Are All Waiting The popular Scottish crime-writer reading her story on the theme of Elsewhere… Julia Donaldson reading Ballad of Jemmy Button The massively popular children's writer and new Children's Laureate reading her contribution to our Elsewhere series of stories… Jonathan Agnew (2011 event) In 1991, cricket commentator Agnew was involved in a slice of broadcasting history with an innuendo-fuelled remark about Ian Botham. His throwaway line during a Test Match Special had his radio colleague Brian Johnston… Debi Gliori reading Once Upon a Time Children's writer and illustrator Debi Gliori reading her story Once Upon a Time as part of our series of podcasts on the theme of 'Elsewhere'… Anne Fine reading her story As The Proverb Goes... Part of an engaging and varied series of podcasts of leading authors reading their stories, poems or essays on the theme of ‘Elsewhere’… Edna O'Brien with Andrew O'Hagan (2011 event) 'I'm very grateful for Ireland,' said Edna O'Brien in a recent interview. 'It stirs things up in me.' O'Brien came to Edinburgh to discuss her latest book, Saints and Sinners, which includes several stories set in her beloved home country… John Byrne (2011 event) Painter and set designer, playwright and novelist - one of Scotland's great polymaths talks about his extraordinary life and work… Francesca Simon: Horrid Henry (2011 event) You may not want Horrid Henry as your son or brother but how much fun would it be to have him in class? In this event, recorded live at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival, his creator Francesca Simon… Kirstin Innes reading Horror Story Kirstin Innes' Horror Story is just one of a whole series of podcasts of leading authors reading their stories on the theme of 'Elsewhere'… Caitlin Moran (2011 event) What should you call your vagina? And why does everyone ask you when you're going to have a baby? Caitlin Moran is on a mission to reclaim feminism… Vivian French reading Billie D Listen to the ever popular and prolific children's author Vivian French, read her contribution to our series of stories on the theme of 'Elsewhere'… Jacqueline Wilson (2011 Event) Jacqueline Wilson always wanted to be a writer and wrote her first ‘novel’ when she was only 9. Since those early days she’s gone on to write over forty books, won many prestigious awards and created iconic characters such as Tracey Beaker… Jonathan Meres: May Contain Nuts (2011 Event) The former stand-up comedian turned children's novelist Jonathan Meres launched his mad-cap new novel starring the hapless Norm at the Book Festival… Tam Dalyell with James Naughtie (2011 event) There can be few backbench politicians who have had as much influence on British politics as Tam Dalyell. Fiercely independent and a thorn in the side of several Prime Ministers, his contributions to politics include his vocal opposition to military inter… Caitlin Moran (2011 Event) Caitlin Moran is on a mission to reclaim feminism and make it relevant to women today… Miguel Syjuco reading Be Here Now The bright and brilliant Filipino-born Man Asian Literary Prize-winner reads his story on the theme of Elsewhere… Elizabeth Laird reading Red Wolves in the Mist An engaging new story by a much-admired author of young adult fiction, read by the author herself… Kristina Stephenson: Sir Charlie Stinky Socks (2011 Event) Children's author Kristina Stephenson introduced her new book featuring the lovable but slightly pongy Sir Charlie Stinky Socks to the delight of her young audience of 5-7 year olds at the Book Festival… Anne Donovan reading Not Scotland Prize-winning short story writer and novelist reads her story on the theme of Elsewhere… Stella Rimington (2011 event) The former director general of MI5 has forged a new career for herself as an author of spy novels, using her inside knowledge of intelligence activities to create a credible new hero, Liz Carlyle… Marcus Sedgwick reading Archipelago Bestselling novelist of compelling teen fiction reading his story on the theme of Elsewhere… Allan Radcliffe reading Chicago Edinburgh-based Allan Radcliffe reads his contribution to our Elsewhere series of stories… Kurdo Baksi (2011 Event) Stieg Larsson’s books have sold more than 20 million copies in 41 countries. But because they were published after his death, many have been left wondering about the true character of a man who was as passionate in his campaign… Andy Stanton reading Welcome to Flaxland The endlessly entertaining children's author Andy Stanton reading his story Welcome to Flaxland, part of an engaging series of podcasts of… Anthony Browne (2010 Event) Learn about the importance of visual literacy with a master creator of picture books. Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne led this 2010 CPD event as part of our 2010 RBS Schools Programme - it's an… David Mitchell (2010 event) The remarkable author of the Booker-winning Cloud Atlas sold out the Book Festival's biggest venue many weeks in advance. Talking to chair Steven Gale, he delighted festival audiences with his warmth and humour, offering a fascinating insight into how… Reggie Nadelson in conversation with Ian Rankin (2010 event) In this event crime writing extraordinaire Reggie Nadelson discussed the ventures of her brilliantly believable detective, with Edinburgh’s own favourite crime writer, Ian Rankin. The charismatic pair are well worth a listen – and another listen after… Christos Tsiolkas (2010 event) Christos Tsiolkas flew all the way to Edinburgh from his home in Australia to open the 2010 Edinburgh International Book Festival in fine literary style. In a sold-out event chaired by Steven Gale, he discussed his much talked-about best-selling novel The… Michel Faber (2010 event) The acclaimed author of The Crimson Petal and the White describes how ‘elsewhere’ can be hilariously ordinary… Rodge Glass, Jen Hadfield and Eleanor Thom (2010 event) Three leading authors, who are all part of the writing project Elsewhere commissioned by the Book Festival, discuss what it felt like to be asked to take part… Sophia Jansson (2010 event) To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Tove Jansson’s wonderful Moomin series, Sophia Jansson, the author’s niece, and an artist in her own right, talked with chair Julia Eccleshare about her aunt’s work and life, revealing what it was lik… Karen Campbell and Simon Lelic (2010 event) Two of Britain's leading young writers stretch the boundaries of crime fiction… Katie Morag with Mairi Hedderwick (2010 Children's Event) In this event for 5-8 year olds, sensational Scottish children's author Mairi Hedderwick - and a firm favourite with younsters - brings her stories about Katie Morag and her magical Hebridean home to life. What can you expect? A few tales of mischievo… David Vann & Willy Vlautin (2010 event) Two of Amercia's most captivating voices in fiction and their riveting new novels… Assessment for the Curriculum for Excellence (2010 Event) Join Terry Lanagan, Executive Director of Educational Services at West Dunbartonshire Council as he explores a range of assessment methods and how they can be used within the Curriculum for Excellence… Jeanette Winterson (2010 event) Legendary writer Jeanette Winterson inspired her audience with tremendous charm on 16 August, speaking movingly of happiness and the pursuit thereof. This brilliant event was full of intelligent questions from the audience and great energy from Winterson … Andy Stanton (2010 children's event) Highly energetic, funny-man Andy Stanton reads from jotters that he wrote when he was eight… Fatima Bhutto & Fay Weldon (2010 event) The celebrated Fay Weldon and the superb Fatima Bhutto captivated Book Festival audiences in this 2010 event chaired by Ruth Padel. Despite their widely different backgrounds, both Fay Weldon and Fatima Bhutto share the way in which a parent’s loss affe… Alasdair Gray (2010 event) With the help of three actors, Lanark author Alasdair Gray presents an irreverent dramatised reading… Joseph Stiglitz (2010 event) A 2010 Book Festival event that will be talked about for some time to come. Nobel Prize-winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz, delivered a thought-provoking event with the words of a real insider. As chair Ruth Wishart said, "Joseph Stiglitz has analysed mor… George Monbiot Passionate campaigner for environmental and social change, George Monbiot gives us practical, powerful solutions on a global scale of how to prevent further destruction of our planet through climate change in this 2007 event. The video of this event is sp… Richard Holloway - 2009 launch video The launch of the 2009 Edinburgh International Book Festival programme was held in the Signet Library in Edinburgh on 11 June… Louise Welsh (2010 event) Much-loved author of The Cutting Room and The Bullet Trick Louise Welsh discusses and reads from her new novel… Roddy Doyle (2010 event) Booker Prize author Roddy Doyle's writing has been described as urgent, funny and often deeply moving, in this video we see him reading from his new novel The Dead Republic before responding to audience questions… Alberto Manguel and Miguel Syjuco (2010 event) Two writers of international significance discussing their latest novels and literary festivals… Roddy Doyle (2010 children's event) Listen to this audio recording to join the audience of Roddy Doyle’s fantastic 2010 Book Festival children’s event, ideal for ages 7+ and families. Brilliant and hilarious, the madcap misadventures of Rover and the Mack family are unmissable… Carol Ann Duffy (2010 event) We welcomed Britain's Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy to the Book Festival in 2010 for three remarkable events. In this beautifully-received event she read new work from The Bees which will be published in 2011, and was joined by chair Don Paterson and musi… Philippe Sands (2010 event) Join Philippe Sands QC in his 2010 Book Festival event to learn why he believes the policy of abuse at Guantanamo Bay originated with Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and George W Bush. An absorbing event, chaired by Kate Allen… John Green (2010 event) On 15 August droves of enthusiastic fans were treated to a visit from American teen novel master John Green. In a stroke of genius he arranged a meet-up beforehand for the Edinburgh-based fans in his audience...! The result: an unbeatably friendly and fun… James Robertson (2010 Event) Winner of the Saltire Book of the Year award, James Robertson talks to James Naughtie to launch his novel And the Land Lay Still - in an event full of humour and surprises… Joyce Carol Oates (2010 event) Listen to a significant literary voice as she discusses her two books published in 2010, both of which, in very different ways, involve young people coming to terms with their own sexuality… Nicholas Parsons (2010 event) Chatting to chair Al Senter, the inimitable Nicholas Parsons showed that the oldest gameshow host ever still retains his famous ability to entertain. A sold out event packed with fans, the British legend discussed life in the public eye to an enthusiastic… Michèle Roberts & Helen Simpson (2010 event) Two remarkable writers led an exceptional Book Festival event in 2010. Joined by chair Steven Gale, Michèle Roberts and Helen Simpson discussed their sharp and moving short story collections to great effect… Marina Endicott and Lisa Moore (2010 event) Canadian author Lisa Moore and Commonwealth Prize-winner Marina Endicott delivered with chair Luke Brown a captivating Book Festival event in 2010 to discuss their affecting explorations of life after death… David Vann and Willy Vlautin (2010 event) Another chance to listen to two writers who have produced riveting, heartbreaking and sometimes shocking accounts of father-son relationships. An interesting, intelligent and compelling event, chaired by Hannah McGill, well worth revisiting… James Robertson (2010 event) Joined by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme presenter, James Naughtie, James Robertson discussed his epic novel, And the Land Lay Still, launching it to great enthusiasm at the 2010 Book Festival… Tom McCarthy (2010 event) In 2010, major new literary voice Tom McCarthy joined us in Edinburgh to launch his new book, C, in which McCarthy’s hero embarked on a strange, Pynchonesque journey across the 20th century, from a Bohemian spa and the First World War, to a climax in an… Anne Donovan, Kirstin Innes, Allan Radcliffe and Jason Donald (2010 event) From the word 'Elsewhere' four writers have created very different tales, Not Scotland, Horror Story, Chicago and Puerto Galera, join chair Jenny Brown and the authors as they discuss their commissions from the Book Festival… Debi Gliori (2010 children's event) Debi Gliori takes us on an enchanting journey, wandering through the forests and meeting the animal characters in her acclaimed books… Tohby Riddle and Keith Gray (2010 teen event) In an exclusive sold out UK appearance, celebrated Australian writer Tohby Riddle talks to masterful teen novelist Keith Gray for a sizzling conversation… Simon Callow (2010 Event) On Monday 16 August, a gentleman came to the Information Desk to return his earpiece unused. "I didn't need it", he explained; "I've just been to the Simon Callow event!" Sure enough, beloved actor Simon Callow filled our RBS Main Theatre with his legenda… A S Byatt (2010 event) In a surprise Book Festival event announced after the 2010 programme went to print, A S Byatt charmed her substantial audience to the full. Chaired by writer and literary critic Stuart Kelly, this was an engaging and appealing event of intriguing question… Polly Toynbee and David Walker (2010 Event) So what exactly did twelve years of undiluted New Labour achieve? Polly Toynbee and David Walker, co-authors of two previous books on the subject, returned to the Book Festival in 2010 with the definitive assessment… Simmone Howell (2010 schools event) Eclectic Australian children's writer Simmone Howell joined us for a brilliant event for schools in 2010. Suitable for S2 - S6, she talked about place, people and invention in this fascinating and charming event… Garth Nix (2010 children's event) The engaging Australian fantasy writer Garth Nix  talks about his gripping The Keys to the Kingdom series… Powering the Planet (2010 Event) How do we provide fuel for the world without destroying it in the process, and can Scotland really be a key player? Part of our popular debates and environment strand in 2010, this event features a panel of experts to discuss the options… Cressida Cowell (2010 children's event) A chance to hear the author of the book-turned-into-big-screen-hit How to Train your Dragon in her fantastic and wildly popular 2010 kids' event, ideal for ages 8 - 12. The adored writer provided some very silly drawings, chatted about her big hit, and mo… A L Kennedy (2010 event) Exclusive extracts from her 2011 novel and the amusing Q & A with the audience that followed… Emma Donoghue and FIona Shaw (2010 event) Listen to two unique writers as they look at love and trauma through a child’s eyes. Emma Donogue’s Room and Fiona Shaw’s Tell it to the Bees are two remarkable works, discussed in depth in this event chaired by Pru Rowlandson… Andrew O'Hagan (2010 event) August 2010 saw writer Andrew O’Hagan bring to the Book Festival an unforgettable tale of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and a dog called Maf. Listen to O’Hagan in this audio recording of his special live event in Charlotte Square gardens, where he was… Seamus Heaney (2010 event) We are delighted to offer you a chance to listen to celebrated Irish poet Seamus Heaney in his fantastic and extremely popular event with us in 2010. Chatting to chair Robyn Marsack, Seamus Heaney discussed his newest collection, Human Chain… Andrea Levy (2010 event) In 2010 Andrea Levy joined us for a captivating event to discuss The Long Song. Alongside chair Charlotte Higgins, Andrea Levy spoke of her striking new work to an eager audience… Raymond Blanc One of the nicest chefs we've ever had the pleasure of welcoming to Charlotte Square Gardens ? he even made up a special recipe for us on the spot after his event (see our blog). Here he tells his remarkable life story, which took him from a boyhood colle… Tom Parker Bowles The popular food critic and writer Tom Parker Bowles traveled the country meeting the weird and wonderful people and dishes which make up our culinary heritage and in this event he talks about his discoveries with his customary blend humour and wisdom… Alasdair Gray Celebrated novelist and artist Alasdair Gray was once better known as playwright, a profession to which he recently returned. In this event he discusses and performs his dramatic works, including an intriguing glimpse at his as-yet-unmade movie of his fic… Alex Gray and Denise Mina A fantastic hour of crime fiction with two leading ladies of the Scottish crime writing world. Alex Gray's third installment from DCI Lorimer sees him searching for missing school girls and Denise Mina's new book involves a kidnapping and dark secrets in … Marina Lewycka Marina Lewycka is a gifted and entertaining storyteller whose popularity became assured with her first novel A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian. Just like her books, her events are full of energy and humour which has made her loved by festival audien… Carol Ann Duffy (children's event) Our new Poet Laureate is as always provocative and heart-rending in equal measure. Her flair for language is nothing short of breathtaking. Listen to her event and be transported - best listened to with nothing to distract you from the warmth, the flow an… Alistair MacLeod Much to our delight, Alistair MacLeod agreed to travel across the Atlantic from his home in Ontario to be with us at the 2009 Book Festival. One of the foremost novelists and short story writers, he is a master craftsman, an exquisite stylist whose work i… Jacqueline Wilson Legions of young fans descended on Charlotte Square Gardens for Jacqueline Wilson's event and book signing (billed for ages 9+). Her writing has made her an international phenomenon and continues to inspire and challenge young readers. In this event she d… Ewan Morrison and Alan Bissett The young men of Scottish literature are growing up and taking us with them! Both talk about their latest books in this event: Alan Bissett about Death of a Ladies? Man where his boy racer discovers a life of work, sex and love; and Ewan Morrison picks ap… Malorie Blackman (children's event) It was a joy to welcome Malorie Blackman to the 2009 Book Festival. She is a fantastically inventive storyteller as proved by her innovative novel Noughts and Crosses. In this event she introduces Double Cross, the latest instalment of the series, to a pa… William Boyd Expect storytelling of the highest order from William Boyd. He's become a favourite at the Book Festival for his relaxed and witty events and, of course, for his brilliant stories. His latest, Ordinary Thunderstorms, is the thrilling tale of a young Londo… Arthur Smith The irreverent, hilarious and scandalous broadcaster Arthur Smith began his event at the Book Festival in the dark due to a complete power failure but with his booming voice and general good humour he revelled in the novelty of performing in the dark. And… Jackie Kay A captivating hour of poetry from Jackie Kay, a Book Festival favourite whose events regularly sell-out, this being no exception. Listen to her words, revel in the language. Definitely one to listen to again and again… Dubravka UgreÅ¡ic Croatian writer Dubravka Ugrešić has won several major European literary awards and her books have been translated into more than twenty languages. In this event she introduces her new novel, Baba Yaga Laid an Egg, an extraordinary meditation on f… Emmanuel Jal Forced to become a child soldier for the rebel army in Sudan's bloody civil war, Emmanuel Jal was put into battle in Ethiopia. He finally escaped, told his story in War Child (an incredible and moving memoir-cum-story) and now spreads messages of peace an… Irvine Welsh The man who delved into the dark reality of contemporary Edinburgh was the first of the 2009 Book Festival's late evening events. Irvine Welsh here talks about his new collection Reheated Cabbage, which brings together an eclectic mix of stories capturing… Val McDermid One of Scotland's great masters of the crime genre was welcomed back to the Book Festival by capacity audiences. Great chat and some more tales from the casebooks of Dr Tony Hill and Detective Carol Jordan. A festival favourite if ever there was one!… Judith Kerr (children's event) Judith Kerr's picture books, such as The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog the Cat, are classics and children love her work. In this event for children aged 9+ she revealed a bit about her own life, a fascinating page turner in itself, including details about… Martin Stannard Biographer Martin Stannard tackles the grande dame of Scottish literature in his latest work - the late, great Muriel Spark. We were honoured to have her at the Book Festival shortly before she died; her performance sparkled with wit and lit up Charlotte … Sharon Olds Award-winning American poet Sharon Olds made a very welcome trip to Edinburgh to appear at the Book Festival in 2009. A poet of passion, imagination and power, her latest collection, One Secret Thing, is at once unforgiving and compassionate, humorous and… Mark Millar Mark Millar candidly discusses comics, graphic novels and Hollywood with Stuart Kelly in this sold-out Book Festival event. His bestselling comic Kick-Ass is being made into a film this year; Wanted 2 is in development after the success of his blockbuster… Tom Kitchin One of the UK's most exciting chefs, Tom Kitchin launched his first book in this event at the Book Festival. From Nature to Plate captures his story from trainee to Michelin-star chef while taking us through the seasons and some of his favourite recipes. … Sebastian Barry After being awarded the coveted Costa Book of the Year Award earlier in the year for his incredibly moving novel The Secret Scripture, Irish writer Sebastian Barry went on to receive the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction too, which was announced in a spe… Garrison Keillor For over three decades Garrison Keillor has delighted radio audiences and readers alike with his hilarious yet poignant take on life in mid-west America. Here he tells stories, sings songs and regales the audience with anecdotes in an event like no other… Patrick McCabe and Colm Tóibín These two superlative writers explore small-town Ireland in their latest novels and we were delighted that they were both able to come to the Book Festival to talk about their work… Kate Summerscale Kate Summerscale created a bestseller about the true tale of the murder of a Victorian child. Her novel, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher dazzlingly combines hard-dug research with the best of the crime writer?s craft and in this event she tells all about it… Alain de Botton What does work mean to us? Why do we do it? What makes it pleasurable? Alain de Botton's gift for looking deeply behind the ordinary, taken-for-granted things in our lives has won him huge popularity. In this event he brings us The Pleasure and Sorrows of… David Simon One of the hottest tickets of the 2009 Book Festival, we were thrilled the creator and writer of HBO's universally acclaimed TV series The Wire, took time out to come to Edinburgh for the Book Festival. David Simon first posed the question 'Are America's … Kate Atkinson Our opening Meet the Author event for 2009 went off with a bang - and why not? After all, the award-garlanded Kate Atkinson's perceptive and beguiling tales of love and loss, with not a little humour, are read by millions and she's is held in high esteem … Narinder Dhami Following her blockbuster success with Bend it Like Beckham, Narinder Dhami visited the Book Festival to talk to her young fans (this event was for ages 8+) about her new series, which focuses on six friends and their everyday lives: surviving school, end… Griff Rhys Jones Comedian, writer, broadcaster and presenter, Griff Rhys Jones spoke at the Book Festival about Britain's rivers, taking the audience on a tour of the most beautiful and extraordinary waterways, exploring their place in the country's soul and their importa… Vince Cable Known for his intelligent and honest approach to party politics, Vince Cable has been the Lib Dem's economic spokesperson since 2003 and it is from this viewpoint he has witnessed the storm of the economic crisis. He talks about his new book in this event… Paul Preston Leading foreign correspondents such as Hemmingway, Gellhorn, Orwell and many others, now forgotten, were present during the Spanish Civil War. In this fascinating event, eminent historian Paul Preston explores their courage and skill and, through a huge t… Cornelia Funke (children's event) Massively popular writer for older children (although also with many adult readers; her work crosses over nicely), Cornelia Funke made a rare appearance at the Book Festival this year. With her boundless enthusiasm for stories she tells a packed auditoriu… Tracy Chevalier Talking about her new novel Remarkable Creatures, the queen of the historical novel this time tackles Mary Anning, the fossil-obsessed girl who discovered whole plesiosaurs in the Dorset cliffs. Her finds invited people to question the literal truth of th… Michael Cox … Louise Rennison (children's event) Louise Rennison is splendidly wild, as are her characters. In this event she gives her legions of teenage fans the details of the final instalment of Georgia Nicolson?s adventures revealing what?s next for the Ace Gang and whether Dave the Laugh ever beco… Andrew O'Hagan A magnificently intelligent essayist, novelist, critic, and a mesmerising speaker. Andrew O'Hagan talks to Magnus Linklater in this 2008 event about politics, Scotland and his recent collection of reportage on a declining Britain and a rising America, The… The A-Z of Poetry with Michael Rosen, Carol Ann Duffy, Tom Pow & John Sampson The electrifying and infectious Children's Laureate is joined by top poets, musicians and writers for children (Carol Ann Duffy, Tom Pow and John Sampson) in this unique 2008 event which plays with words and makes them dance. For children of 5 and upwards… Tony Benn Passionately dedicated to politics and to ordinary people, Tony Benn is a highly engaging speaker. He speaks in this 2008 event about his warm, funny, feisty diaries which record his trenchant views on the political landscape of the past seven years… Michelle Magorian (children's event) Michelle Magorian's debut novel Goodnight Mister Tom has become a children's classic. In this 2008 event Michelle gives an exclusive look at her first book in ten years, Just Henry, a gripping mystery-thriller for children of 10 and upwards… A L Kennedy The finest contemporary Scottish writing commissioned especially by the festival. We asked four of our most highly acclaimed writers (John Burnside, Janice Galloway, A L Kennedy and Don Paterson) to create new work - poetry and prose - for this 2008 event… Sean Connery - filmed highlights On the day of his 78th birthday, 25 August 2008, Edinburgh-born film icon Sean Connery chats with his friend and co-author Murray Grigor about a range of subjects including his much-anticipated book Being A Scot. The event proved to be the fastest-selling… Lights Off The Quay - pt4 (Don Paterson) We commissioned and published new stories and poems from four of the finest Scottish writers: A L Kennedy, Janice Galloway, John Burnside and Don Paterson. Lights Off The Quay, our first publication of new writing, is the result. A sold-out event at the B… Salman Rushdie Master storyteller Salman Rushdie returned to the Book Festival in 2008 to talk about his sumptuous new novel The Enchantress of Florence with Ramona Koval. This is a short extract filmed live at the sold-out event where he describes the influences on his… Xiaolu Guo Xiaolu Guo has won international praise for her work as both writer and filmmaker. In this 2008 event she discusses her latest novel 20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth, which draws on her experiences as a filmmaker in Beijing… David Lodge David Lodge, one of the UK’s pre-eminent novelists and critics, talks about his latest book, Deaf Sentence – a brilliant, elegiac portrait of one man’s attempt to come to terms with his deafness… Howard Jacobson Howard Jacobson, the celebrated novelist and leading cultural critic renowned for his ebullient wit and passion for literature and art, talks about his new novel An Act of Love in this 2008 event… Christopher Brookmyre Acclaimed Scottish novelist and hugely entertaining speaker, Christopher Brookmyre talks in this 2008 event about his latest book, A Snowball in Hell, which takes celebrity culture and turns it on its head… Andy Stanton (children's event) His mad wit is reminiscent of Roald Dahl and Monty Python and his crazy events are loved by children. In this 2008 event for 7 - 12 year olds, Andy Stanton gives an exclusive preview of his latest adventure, Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear… Gordon Brown - 25th Anniversary Opening Event Prime Minister Gordon Brown opens the 2008 Book Festival with this unique and illuminating conversation with Ian Rankin. Hear him discuss history, heroes and his own writings… Jackie Kay An hour of pure pleasure with multi-talented poet, playwright, novelist, storywriter, children's author and broadcaster, Jackie Kay. In this 2008 event she discusses her latest collection of poetry Darling, which gets to the heart of love with exquisite l… Richard Dawkins A brilliant evolutionist, polemical in his attack upon religion as an explanation of our world, Richard Dawkins was one of our fastest-selling events of 2008. In conversation with Paula Kirby, atheist and former Christian, he tackles life on Earth and the… Gavin Esler Co-presenter of Newsnight, one of our foremost commentators, Scottish broadcaster and writer Gavin Esler knows better than most what goes on behind the scenes in politics. In this 2008 event he talks about his new novel A Scandalous Man, which tells the t… Bill Paterson Bill Paterson, one of Scotland's most renowned and best-loved actors, talks with Ruth Wishart about his much-awaited memoir Tales from the Back Green in this 2008 event. It's a wonderful portrait of growing up in Glasgow's East End in the 1950s… Simon Sebag Montefiore … Sean Connery talks to Murray Grigor On his 78th birthday, 25 August 2008, Edinburgh-born international film legend Sean Connery launches his long-awaited book Being A Scot with his co-author and friend Murray Grigor at the Book Festival. Here he chats about a wide range of subjects with cha… Hanif Kureishi One of the most distinctive and fearless writers in Britain, Hanif Kureishi has been a major and vital presence since Buddha of Suburbia. Sex, middle-age, love, longing, race, regret and psychoanalysis are all wholly present in his latest novel, Something… Alex Salmond Scotland's First Minister and the first ever Scottish National Party leader, Alex Salmond speaks of his hopes and vision for the country in this 2008 event. Chaired by Brian Taylor… Janice Galloway Janice Galloway, one of the UK's finest writers, talks eloquently to Richard Holloway in this 2008 event about her outstanding memoir This is Not About Me, which vividly evokes Ayrshire in the 1960s… Tariq Ali One of the most impassioned and eloquent orators and thinkers of them all, Tariq Ali's events are inspiring and unmissable. In this, his 2008 Book Festival event chaired by Ruth Wishart, you can hear him discuss British politics, South America and much mo… Lights Off The Quay - pt1 (A L Kennedy) We commissioned and published new stories and poems from four of the finest Scottish writers: A L Kennedy, Janice Galloway, John Burnside and Don Paterson. Lights Off The Quay, our first publication of new writing, is the result. A sold-out event at the B… Jonathan Stroud (children's event) After the knock-out success of his Bartimaeus Trilogy, Jonathan Stroud previews his new stand-alone fantasy Heroes of the Valley in this 2008 event. For children of 10 and upwards… Steven Berkoff Stunning performer and actor, commander of the stage. Steven Berkoff discusses theatre, travel and world cuisine, focussing on his lastest book, My Life in Food, in this 2008 event… Lights Off The Quay - pt2 (Janice Galloway) We commissioned and published new stories and poems from four of the finest Scottish writers: A L Kennedy, Janice Galloway, John Burnside and Don Paterson. Lights Off The Quay, our first publication of new writing, is the result. A sold-out event at the B… Sophie McKenzie - Catching the Spark (children's event)  … Julian Barnes Julian Barnes, one of Britain's most singular and talented novelists, talks to Richard Holloway about his new 2008 book Nothing to Be Frightened Of – it is a deeply personal, moving and exhilarating autobiography-of-sorts: a mediation on death, art, God… Louis de Bernières A welcome return to the Book Festival in 2008 by Louis de Bernières, the author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Here he speaks engagingly about his humorous and sad new novel, A Partisan's Daughter… Jonathan Dimbleby Outstanding journalist and presenter Jonathan Dimbleby travelled thousands of miles to get to the heart of modern Russia. In this absorbing and often moving event from 2008, he gives unique insight into a vast land in transition… Brian Boyd - The Curriculum for Excellence Professor Brian Boyd, contributor to the groundbreaking report The Curriculum for Excellence, examines how to improve the effectiveness of schools and learning for all in this inspirational 2008 event… John Burnside The finest contemporary Scottish writing commissioned especially by the festival. We asked four of our most highly acclaimed writers (John Burnside, Janice Galloway, A L Kennedy and Don Paterson) to create new work - poetry and prose - for this 2008 event… Lights Off The Quay - pt3 (John Burnside) We commissioned and published new stories and poems from four of the finest Scottish writers: A L Kennedy, Janice Galloway, John Burnside and Don Paterson. Lights Off The Quay, our first publication of new writing, is the result. A sold-out event at the B… Eoin Colfer (children's event) The teenage criminal mastermind is back. The latest book in the Artemis Fowl series (described as 'Die Hard with fairies' by its creator) sees our hero come face to face with his worst opponent yet - his younger, more evil self! Join energetic author Eoin… Susan Greenfield A powerful speaker and one of the world's foremost neuroscientists, Susan Greenfield discusses how we can safeguard our individuality from modern living in this 2008 event… Anne Enright Man Booker winner and one of the finest Irish writers, Anne Enright brings to life her intensely poetic writing, focussing on her new collection of stories Taking Pictures in this 2008 event… Alastair Reid Gatecrash the final evening of the 2008 Book Festival to hear the brilliant 'word magician', citizen of the world, translator, poet and more, as he talks about his work and reads from a new collection of writing… Michael Rosen - Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly... New Children's Laureate and master entertainer Michael Rosen (most famous for We're Going on a Bear Hunt) thrilled Book Festival audiences in 2007 with this fun event for the whole family, full of silly, zany poetry told with infectious enthusiasm. Suitab… George Monbiot - pt3 Passionate campaigner for environmental and social change, George Monbiot gives us practical, powerful solutions on a global scale of how to prevent further destruction of our planet through climate change in this 2007 event. The video of this event is sp… A C Grayling How should we lead our lives? An hour of illuminating, engaging and passionate talk from the leading philosopher A C Grayling in this 2007 event… Tony Bradman (children's event) Fun poems and stories from entertaining children's author Tony Bradman in this 2007 schools event for pupils from P4-7. Tony also reads from his new book Assassin, which features a boy growing up in Scotland during the time of Hadrian's Roman occupation… Joanna David - with Josephine Hart & Dan Stevens The poetry and life of Byron is examined by novelist and poetry evangelist Josephine Hart in this 2007 event. With readings by renowned actors of stage and screen, Joanna David and Dan Stevens… Germaine Greer Provocative and opinionated - there's no one quite like Germaine Greer. In this 2007 event she talks about Shakespeare's Wife, her new book on Ann Hathaway, which combines her immense literary knowledge with her views on woman's position in society… Ian McEwan Unedited audio recording of the 2007 event in which Ian McEwan chats with chair Ian Rankin about his early work, influences and most recent publication, On Chesil Beach. Great fun!… Michelle Paver (children's event) Michelle Paver's book signing queues are getting almost as long as Jacqueline Wilson's and her Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series has become a massive hit with children; full of ancient artefacts and tales of survival. Listen to this exciting event fro… John Pilger Radical, passionate and often controversial, John Pilger is one of the most important free spirits in worldwide journalism and filmmaking. In these video highlights from his 2007 event, he talks about the long shadow of imperialism, hidden censorship and … Phillip Gourevitch - pt2 The 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 … Lucy Hawking - pt2   A young audience plays Who Wants to be a Cosmic Billionaire?, is showered by an asteroid storm and learns about the solar system with Lucy Hawking and her father Professor Stephen Hawking (via live audio link-up) in video highlights from this … Dylan Wiliam - Formative Assessment Professor Dylan Wiliam of University College, London is a leading education expert and champion of Formative Assessment. In this event from 2007, he talks candidly about helping children reach their goals without teaching to tests… John Pilger - pt2 Radical, passionate and often controversial, John Pilger is one of the most important free spirits in worldwide journalism and filmmaking. In these video highlights from his 2007 event, he talks about the long shadow of imperialism, hidden censorship and … Jacqueline Wilson (children's event) Perennial children's favourite Jacqueline Wilson is always a sell-out, and has the longest queues for book signings in the festival. In this 2007 event she talks about her new book for older readers and teenagers, Kiss which charts the adventures of growi… Sergio Della Sala The much-admired Professor of Human Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh, Sergio Della Sala takes us on a highly amusing and accessible journey, exploring the myths and beliefs about our brain. Can mind conquer matter and diseases? Are ou… Sergio Della Sala - pt2 The much-admired Professor of Human Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh, Sergio Della Sala takes us on a highly amusing and accessible journey, exploring the myths and beliefs about our brain. Can mind conquer matter and diseases? Are ou… Ian Rankin Always a hot favourite at the Book Festival, bestselling crime author Ian Rankin's events are never less than entertaining. Here he chats to Magnus Linklater and reveals something about his new 2007 Inspector Rebus novel, Exit Music… Alan Warner An immensely welcome visit in 2007 from one of Scotland's most dizzingly talented and original writers, now living in Spain. Listen as Alan Warner, author of Morvern Callar and The Worms Can Carry Me to Heaven, discusses the scope and ambition of his work… Margaret Atwood - event with Alice Munro An extraordinary event from the 2007 Book Festival - an interview with two legendary, world-leading figures of Canadian writing, one on either side of the Atlantic. Margaret Atwood in Edinburgh interviews and chats to the great Alice Munro in Canada, argu… George Monbiot - pt4 Passionate campaigner for environmental and social change, George Monbiot gives us practical, powerful solutions on a global scale of how to prevent further destruction of our planet through climate change in this 2007 event. The video of this event is sp… Lionel Shriver American author, journalist and critic Lionel Shriver talks, in this 2007 event, about her new novel The Post-Birthday World which imagines two parallel lives for a woman… Philip Gourevitch The 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 … George Monbiot - pt2 Passionate campaigner for environmental and social change, George Monbiot gives us practical, powerful solutions on a global scale of how to prevent further destruction of our planet through climate change in this 2007 event. The video of this event is sp… Fay Weldon She's stylish, sharp, satirical and a great speaker to boot. A free spirit with a long and remarkable writing career, Fay Weldon talks in this 2007 event about her latest novel The Spa Decameron, in which ten women gather at a spa for pampering, new begin… Alan Bennett Alan Bennett talks about his latest sublime fiction, The Uncommon Reader, in this fun 2007 event. The story revolves around the Queen's dicovery of literature and is full of Bennett's trademark humour and humanity… Andrew Marr The hugely admired Scottish broadcaster Andrew Marr talks to Iain Macwhirter about Scotland, politics and life in general in one of our fastest selling events of 2007… Raja Shehadeh A breathtaking 2007 event with Palestinian human rights lawyer and writer Raja Shehadeh. He here launches his new book Palestinian Walks in which he crosses his land on foot; conflicts and history revealed in the beautiful and battered landscapes. Chaired… Norman Mailer - live from America Live from America, the inimitable man of letters Norman Mailer chats via video link-up to Scottish writer Andrew O'Hagan in Edinburgh. Topics discussed in this extraordinary 2007 event include Mailer's career, his ambitions and his latest novel The Castle… Richard Ford A rare and long-awaited visit to the Book Festival in 2007 by one of America's greatest writers. Richard Ford's Independence Day is the only book ever to have won both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Here he discusses his magnificent follow… Billy Bragg Thoroughly at home with an audience, political singer and activist Billy Bragg inspires his hundreds of fans with talk of his new book, The Progressive Patriot in this 2007 event… Cathy Cassidy (children's event) Cathy Cassidy is back with an all-new lovable heroine whose family are a complete embarrassment - her mum is a drama queen while her dad thinks he's Elvis! Hear about the quirky characters and silly misadventures of Sundae Girl in this hugely enjoyable 20… Nicola Barry Join leading journalist Nicola Barry for this poignant event from 2007 about her family's struggle and her ultimate triumph over alcoholism… James Kelman James Kelman is the single most influential Scottish novelist of modern times and Scotland's only Booker Prize winner. Listen to him discuss his groundbreaking early work in 2007, the year of its reissue… Louise Rennison (children's event) Do the Disco Inferno with Louise Rennison, outspoken author of extraordinary teen fiction, as she discusses her latest hilarious Georgina Nicholson offering 'Luurve is a Many Trousered Thing...' in this lively 2007 event… A L Kennedy Linguistic brilliance from A L Kennedy, one of the most remarkable writers of her generation. In this 2007 event she talks about her latest novel Day - a moving, profound, beautifully realised story of a bomber in the Second World War… Joyce Carol Oates One of America's most admired and respected novelists and a strong contender for the Nobel Prize for Literature. In this 2007 event Joyce Carol Oates discusses her bold new novel Black Girl / White Girl, which examines the issues of race in the US in the … Lucy Hawking A young audience plays Who Wants to be a Cosmic Billionaire?, is showered by an asteroid storm and learns about the solar system with Lucy Hawking and her father Professor Stephen Hawking (via live audio link-up) in video highlights from this thrilling 20… Roger McGough A joyous return to Edinburgh in 2006 by the 'patron saint of poetry' - simply hearing him read his own work is a blissful experience. He has also written an autobiography filled with his usual idiosyncratic humour and humanity - growing up in Liverpool, o… Eoin Colfer (children's event) … Tony Benn In the fastest selling event at the 2006 Book Festival, captivating speaker Tony Benn enchants his audience with wit and unquenched passion… Ian Rankin   Always one of the most popular Book Festival authors and an international bestselling phenomenon to boot, Scottish-born Ian Rankin is interrogated by fellow crime writer Denise Mina in this revealing 2006 Book Festival event… Michael Foreman - with Michael Morpurgo (children's event) A unique opportunity to hear one of the most successful and best-loved writing and illustrating partnerships, Michael Foreman and Michael Morpurgo, in conversation in this 2006 event. Between them they have worked on over 250 books for children and remain… Paul Muldoon Pulitzer Prize winning poet Paul Muldoon has been called 'the most important English language poet born since the Second World War'. Hear the power of his forthcoming work in this 2006 event… Seamus Heaney A chance to hear Seamus Heaney, the great Nobel Prize winning poet, reading his own work in this 2006 event, including his major new volume District and Circle. Pure pleasure… Bernard MacLaverty … Alexander Masters Alexander Masters' biography of homeless Stuart Shorter, Stuart: A Life Backwards, has been hailed by critics as startling, remarkable, rare, haunting and uplifting. In this utterly absorbing event from 2006, he asks how a life can follow such a troubled … Roger McGough (children’s event) Roger 'patron saint of poetry' McGough enchanted his young audience with a lively bit of chat and some fantastic poetry in this 2006 event for all the family. Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards… Meg Rosoff (children's event) Will you step in front of a bus today or win the lottery? The author of the breathtaking bestseller How I Live Now, talks to an audience of teens and adults in this 2006 event about her utterly compelling new novel on fate and what happens when fate doesn… John Mortimer Utter delight in the company of one of the most effervescent minds in the land, creator of Rumpole of the Bailey and now a wonderful new comic novel, Quite Honestly. This 2006 event with John Mortimer is great fun… Ngugi wa Thiong'o A major, first ever visit to the Book Festival in 2006 from one of the most important living African writers. A legend in his native Kenya, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, now world-renowned, was imprisoned for his opposition and insistence on writing in his native la… Doris Lessing A great favourite at the Book Festival and one of the most revered figures in English literature, Doris Lessing reveals the full force of her literary intelligence as she discusses her career and recent writings in this 2006 event… Margaret Atwood She is one of the world's most gifted and eminent authors, on a special visit from Canada to receive the Scottish Arts Council's Muriel Spark International Fellowship. Always an entertaining speaker, here Margaret Atwood talks about her life as a writer i… Charlie Higson (children's event) Charlie Higson brings the latest ingenious instalment of his Young Bond series to the Book Festival in 2006. Hear about the thrilling teenage exploits of the world's most enigmatic spy in Blood Fever. Suitable for 10-14 year olds… Martin Amis We were delighted when Martin Amis agreed to speak at a special Book Festival autumn event at Edinburgh's Queens Hall in 2006. A rare visit to Scotland by one of the most admired and influential writers of his generation was indeed cause for celebration. … Billy Collins One of the most popular poets on the planet and former US Poet Laureate in his first visit to the Book Festival in 2006. Billy Collins speaks without pretension and with perfect perception about the revelatory detail of our daily lives… Gillian Baverstock To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the publication of Malory Towers, Enid Blyton's daughter, Gillian Baverstock, shares her memories of growing up with one of the world's best-loved children's authors. Hear about the real-life inspirations behind Blyton… Richard Dawkins Richard Dawkins, one of the world's greatest living scientists, talks to Muriel Gray in this 2005 event about his extraordinary investigations of evolution and his passion for the wonders it contains and reveals… Michael Morpurgo (children's event) Award-winning Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo is a gripping speaker and a firm favourite with youngsters (and adults!). In this 2004 event for 9-12 year olds he talks about his new book Private Peaceful, the story of a young soldier at the front duri… Anna Politkovskaya An outstandingly courageous critic of the current Russian regime, journalist and author Anna Politkovskaya has been the recipient of numerous international honours. Sadly she was found shot dead in a lift at her apartment block in Moscow on 7 October 2006… Margaret Atwood Canadian novelist, poet, critic and essayist of global renown and influence, Margaret Atwood's Book Festival events always sell out in a matter of days and her visits to Edinburgh are much anticipated. In this 2005 event she reads some of her short storie… Andre Brink Hear from one of the most important voices coming out of South Africa in this 2005 event. Andre Brink discusses his new novel Praying Mantis, many years in the making and steeped in African magic and dreams… Cathy Cassidy (children's event) Fans of Jacqueline Wilson's books for older readers will love the wonderfully warm characters in Cathy Cassidy's instantly popular Dizzy and Indigo Blue. This 2005 event is suitable for 11-13 year olds… Liz Lochhead Rejoice in the wit, charm and warmth of a captivating poet and performer. Brimful of the most wonderful language, this Liz Lochhead event was the perfect conclusion to the 2005 Book Festival… William Nicholson (children's event) A gifted and imaginative writer, William Nicholson returns to the Book Festival in 2005 with the first book in his new trilogy Seeker, an extraordinary adventure full of magic, glory and truth. Suitable for children aged 11 and upwards… Andrew Marr The first ever visit to the Book Festival by the BBC's Political Editor was our fastest selling event in 2005. Andrew Marr talks about his trade and brings inside stories from the world of politics - expect colourful descriptions of Westminster shenanigan… David Almond (children's event) A fantastic opportunity to gatecrash our 2005 Book Festival event with David Almond, one of today's most respected and acclaimed writers for young people and the author of many novels including the award-winning Skellig and The Fire Eaters. In this record… Jeanette Winterson Lighthousekeeping, in which motherless Silver is taken in by Mr Pew, keeper of the Cape Wrath lighthouse, is an extraordinary homage to R L Stevenson by one of the most startlingly original and brilliant novelists at work today. Jeanette Winterson is also… Andrea Levy Andrea Levy's Small Island has won the Orange, Whitbread and Commonwealth prizes. The author speaks in this 2005 event with intelligence and wit about the book and her career… Melvin Burgess (teen event) Well known for producing controversial, demanding and prize-winning teen fiction, Melvin Burgess is now regarded as one of the best writers of contemporary children's literature. In this 2005 schools event he talks about the significance of myth in his ne…