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, she talks to Heather McDaid, founder of Scottish publishing company 404 Ink and co-editor of Nasty Women, an anthology of essays about women in the 21st century. Joining them is Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose life is lived in the spotlight.

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

Leila Aboulela & Alessandro Gallenzi (2015 Event) 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… Danny Wallace (2012) Danny Wallace (2012) Well where do we start? From reviewing videogames for Sega Power, judging Edinburgh’s Perrier Comedy Awards… 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… Working with Words: Inside the New York Times Crossword Working with Words: Inside the New York Times Crossword ‘You can’t think of your troubles while solving a crossword.’ Margaret Farrar, Founding Crossword Editor, the New York Times The world’s first crossword puzzle was published in 1913. By 1924, Simon & Schuster had capitalised on the craze, publishing the… Hari Kunzru: The Breakdown of Truth Hari Kunzru: The Breakdown of Truth Since Hari Kunzru’s last appearance at the Book Festival in 2017, the world has witnessed a dramatic quickening of social division in the United States, fuelled in part by internet conspiracies and communities. Kunzru makes his long-awaited return to… Representation Matters with Hannah Lee & Jessica Love 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… Douglas Stuart with Damian Barr: The Making of Shuggie Bain Douglas Stuart with Damian Barr: The Making of Shuggie Bain In the words of the starred Kirkus review: ‘You will never forget Shuggie Bain. Scene by scene, this book is a masterpiece.’ This astonishing debut is a powerful and heartbreaking story about the love between a boy and his mother, about poverty and… Allie Esiri: A Poem for Every Autumn Day, A Light in Dark Times Allie Esiri: A Poem for Every Autumn Day, A Light in Dark Times By the end of this difficult year, we may all wish to be transported to another world. Enter the irrepressible Allie Esiri, whose bestselling poetry anthologies have long provided nourishment and comfort. Packed with an eclectic mix of beloved classics… Lucy Easthope & Gavin Francis: Coming Back to Ourselves After Disaster Lucy Easthope & Gavin Francis: Coming Back to Ourselves After Disaster What does recovery mean, when a person has been through something they never could have prepared for? When the Dust Settles is crisis management expert Lucy Easthope’s memoir of existing in the aftermath of disaster. In Recovery, GP and author Gavin… Omid Djalili (2014 event) 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…