Audrey Magee: Still Waters Run Deep

Two men arrive on an island, one to paint it, the other to record its speech. Amid their rivalry, the islanders discover their own relationship with the place they call home. Audrey Magee’s second novel, The Colony, tackles questions of identity, art and power. The subtle beauties of her prose have been compared to the work of Colm Tóibín and Anne Enright. Let the words wash over you as she discusses her work with Peggy Hughes.

Book Festival News

Celebrating the 2024 Book Festival Celebrating the 2024 Book Festival
Monday 26 August

Enjoying this event? You can help us produce more like it.

Donate

Share

Watch more

Tsitsi Dangarembga, Dipo Faloyin & Howard W French: Africa's Rich Diversity Tsitsi Dangarembga, Dipo Faloyin & Howard W French: Africa's Rich Diversity We welcome three exceptionally perceptive writers radically reshaping our understanding of the African continent. Tsitsi Dangarembga explores the intersections of her identities in Black and Female. Dipo Faloyin paints a vivid picture of modern Africa as… Christie Watson: Wild At Heart Christie Watson: Wild At Heart Are we finally getting better at talking about middle age? A shining light leading us along is Christie Watson, writer of Quilt on Fire. Today she talks with broadcaster Sam Baker about the joys (plenty) and agonies (there are a few) of our middle years… Julia Donaldson and Peter May (2015 Event) 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… Rory Stewart speaks with Charlotte Higgins at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 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 him… Phillip Gourevitch - pt2 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… Helena Attlee with Lev Atlas & Greg Lawson: Fiddler on the Don Helena Attlee with Lev Atlas & Greg Lawson: Fiddler on the Don Objects passed down the generations can provide a rich source of stories. Travel writer Helen Attlee hit on a particularly interesting example of this when, at a folk concert in Wales, she was struck by the gorgeous tone of a violin being played by… Wanjiru Koinange & Donna Obaseki-Ogunnaike: Outriders Africa – Sub-Saharan Swiping Wanjiru Koinange & Donna Obaseki-Ogunnaike: Outriders Africa – Sub-Saharan Swiping As part of the Book Festival's Outriders programme exploring the shifting landscapes of contemporary Africa, we turn to The Gambia and Senegal, where, like everywhere else, a maelstrom of taps and swipes has seen modern dating change beyond recognition… Eimear McBride: Disgust Eimear McBride: Disgust ‘Women are really angry. I am… I do feel a really deep, burning sense of injustice at the way women are treated in our world and I want to write about that.’ So said Eimear McBride in a recent interview and she has seen through that impulse with a… Dionne Brand & Claudia Rankine: Poetry and Power  Dionne Brand & Claudia Rankine: Poetry and Power  A rare opportunity to witness two of the most lauded and celebrated North American poets of recent years in conversation. With careers spanning several decades, Dionne Brand and Claudia Rankine discuss their writing to date, and how they have used the… David Reynolds (2015 Event) 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…