Mat Osman: The Fickle Friend of Fortune

A founding member of Suede and the brother of chart-topping crime fiction sensation Richard Osman, Mat Osman visits Edinburgh to discuss his hugely exciting second book The Ghost Theatre. A dazzling punk re-imagining of Elizabethan London, this historical novel tells its gripping story through the eyes of a clairvoyant, bird-worshipping protagonist and her unlikely theatre troupe. In conversation with Rodge Glass.

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

Doireann Ní Ghríofa: A Ghost in the Throat Doireann Ní Ghríofa: A Ghost in the Throat The narrator in Doireann Ní Ghríofa’s A Ghost in the Throat is acutely conscious that she’s occupying a female body, and that her body is itself a kind of ‘female text’ that bears witness to her life experiences. But A Ghost in the Throat is also a female… Lea Ypi with Allan Little: What Does Freedom Mean in Europe? Lea Ypi with Allan Little: What Does Freedom Mean in Europe? Albania was one of the world’s most isolated countries under the rule of Enver Hoxha during its communist period. Lea Ypi grew up under Hoxha, then witnessed communism’s collapse and the country’s transformation to a flawed market economy. Today, Ypi… David Grossman with Elif Shafak: Duty or Love? David Grossman with Elif Shafak: Duty or Love? According to writer Juan Gabriel Vásquez, 'Nobody can see the political in the personal like David Grossman. He is an interpreter of hearts and an investigator of social forces. Every book he writes is a revelation.' Inspired by the true story told to him… Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie with Nicola Sturgeon (2017 Event) 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 Ijeawale… Jeff VanderMeer: The End of All Things? Jeff VanderMeer: The End of All Things? When he first came to Edinburgh some years ago to discuss his speculative eco thriller Annihilation, we suspected that Jeff VanderMeer would become one of the best-respected science fiction authors of his age. What we didn’t realise was that Cli-Fi… 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… Emma Dabiri: Beyond the Anti-Racism 'How To' Guide Emma Dabiri: Beyond the Anti-Racism 'How To' Guide The murder of George Floyd, the powerful resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement and the imperative for white people to interrogate personal privilege led to a number of books about anti-racism being at the top of the bestseller lists in 2020. Emma… Gideon Rachman, Andrew Wilson & Lea Ypi: Follow the Leader Gideon Rachman, Andrew Wilson & Lea Ypi: Follow the Leader Putin, Trump, Erdogan. Why are authoritarian leaders on the rise? Our panel explores their impact on the lives of citizens. Prize-winning journalist Gideon Rachman surveys leadership cults across the globe in The Age of the Strongman; Eastern Europe… Kerry Brown, Sam Fowles & David Loyn: Does Power Inevitably Corrupt? Kerry Brown, Sam Fowles & David Loyn: Does Power Inevitably Corrupt? China, the USA and Britain: three nations at very different stages in their imperial trajectories. Yet each has fought to retain power – often by questionable means. Three experts come together to compare these superpower states: Kerry Brown’s Xi Jinping:… Aravind Adiga (2017 event) 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…