Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 Highlights 13–16 August

Stuart Kelly: Walter Scott, Writer of the Future? Walter Scott had more impact than any other author on this country. Quite simply, he reimagined Scotland. Previously conceptualised by the likes of Samuel Johnson as ‘primitive’, with a landscape that was ‘horrid’, by the time Scott was done Scotland was ‘… 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… 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… Who’s Afraid of the Working Class? In 2018, The Panic! Arts report found that working-class people are dramatically under-represented in the arts, and it is – as many have long-known – a culture dominated by the white middle class. So how do you make your own way, and bring people along… Representation Matters with Hannah Lee & Jessica Love Join acclaimed authors Jessica Love and Hannah Lee for readings and live discussion on the importance of children seeing themselves represented in the picture books they read. Jessica Love is the 2019 Stonewall Book award-winning author and illustrator of… Gavin Francis & Devi Sridhar: The Cost of Health The result of a pandemic and an ageing UK population: record waiting times for treatment. Conversely, medical advances are saving and prolonging lives – albeit ever more expensively. If the NHS is broken, how can we afford the cure? Writer and GP Gavin… Maaza Mengiste: When Italy Invaded Ethiopia In Maaza Mengiste’s latest novel, the shadowy nature of figures from the past is played out in complex and interlocking ways. The Shadow King is powerful, stirring historical fiction that centres women within stories of war and battle that have… Lavinia Greenlaw: Honour the Small Words What is it that gives us the urge to say something, to write or to sing? At the beginning of the year, when we were congratulating her on her successful appearance on Celebrity University Challenge, Lavinia Greenlaw mentioned to us that she had a new book… Neil Gaiman with Audrey Niffenegger (2011 event) American Gods author talks Americana, myth and fantasy with fellow enthusiast Audrey Neffenigger… 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…