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Edinburgh International Book Festival

2025 Festival:
9-24 August
Edinburgh International Book Festival Edinburgh International Book Festival
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2025 Festival:
9-24 August
Home Photo Gallery

2013 Book Festival Highlights

David Peace

David Peace

Doug Johnstone and Laura Lippman
David Roberts celebrates ten years of Dirty Bertie
David Peace
Crow paper sculpture left in honour of Iain Banks' The Crow Road
Cerys Matthews making music on stage
David Peace
  • Sandi Toksvig and audience | There was a full house when Sandi Toksvig came to Edinburgh
  • Sandi Toksvig | Sandi was talking about her latest novel, Valentine Grey
  • A Samba welcome | Edinburgh Samba School provided some rousing entertainment when our gates opened on Saturday.
  • Salman Rushdie | Salman Rushdie reflected on his remarkable career.
  • Salman Rushdie | Salman Rushdie was in Edinburgh to discuss his latest book, Joseph Anton, which gives a frank account of his experience of going underground during the time there was a fatwa against him.
  • Rachel Hazel paper workshop | Rachel Hazel gets hands-on with some paper crafting
  • Props | Some props from Julia Donaldson's all-singing, all-dancing show
  • When Peter Hook met Ian Rankin | Massive music fan Ian Rankin had fun interviewing music legend Peter Hook.
  • Peter Hook | Peter Hook spoke frankly of his life in music.
  • Patrick Ness book signing | Patrick Ness signs books for some of his fans
  • Happy Book Festival visitors | Some jolly Book Festival visitors share a joke in the Gardens
  • Out door superhero | Some of our younger visitors get into the superhero vibe
  • Stormy skies betwee Stripped | A glimpse of our Stripped exhibition of comics and graphic novels artwork in Charlotte Square Gardens
  • Julia Donaldson event | Getting into character for the Julia Donaldson event
  • Lanterns | New for 2013, our lanterns add a touch of colour to a corner of the Gardens.
  • Julia Donaldson and crew | Musical entertainment with Julia Donaldson and friends.
  • Busy bookshop | A member of our booksales team, happy selling books.
  • In the Spiegeltent |
  • George Monbiot | Guardian columnist George Monbiot spoke about his latest book Feral.
  • Gardens at night | Charlotte Square Gardens looking lovely one evening.
  • Deckchair | One of the much-loved Guardian deckchairs
  • Flower table | Another new addition this year - our quirky flower tables
  • Chris Haughton | There were stories, pictures and puppets when Chris Haughton took to the stage.
  • Carrie and David Grant | There was lots of dancing when Carrie and David Grant came to Edinburgh.
  • Carrie and David Grant | A bit of audience participation with Carrie and David Grant.
  • Busy Bookshop | Lots of bookshop browsing
  • Brochures in the Entrance Tent |
  • Blueprint Debate: Energy | George Monbiot and Sue Roaf took part in our debate about the future of energy
  • Stripped banner |
  • The Guardian Literary Clock | The Guardian Literary Clock adds a touch of intrigue to our Entrance Tent.
  • Unbound: Multiples | It was an evening of translation fun when the Multiples team took to the Unbound stage.
  • Stripped flyers in the bookshop |
  • Spiegeltent audience |
  • A Story Shopper takes to the stage | An up-and-coming Edinburgh author reads to our Spiegeltent audience
  • D W Wilson at Jura Unbound | D W Wilson reads at our Best of Young British Novelists evening as part of Jura Unbound
  • Sarah Hall at Jura Unbound | Sarah Hall reads at Jura Unbound - Best of Young British novelists evening
  • Live drawing | This is how you draw the Tattoo Fox
  • Susan Greenfield with Kirsty Wark | Baroness Susan Greenfield talks to Kirst Wark about her extraordinary career.
  • Rowan Williams | The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
  • Michael De Souza and Genevieve Webster | Michael De Souza, Genevieve Webster and friends bring some Rastamouse spirit to the Book Festival.
  • Phyllida Law | Phyllida Law spoke about her latest book How Many Camels are there in Holland?
  • Nate Silver | American statistical whiz-kid Nate Silver joined us hot on the heels of predicting the outcome of the 2014 Independence referendum.
  • Nadeem Aslam | Nadeem Aslam spoke about his acclaimed novel The Bilnd Man's Garden.
  • Ma Jian | Ma Jian spoke about his latest novel The Dark Road which he researched through extensive travel in remote parts of China.
  • Julia Donaldson | Julia Donaldson is interviewed in the Gardens.
  • Joan Lingard book signing | Joan Lingard has been to every Book Festival since we began in 1983.
  • The tale of the Tattoo Fox | Children and Education Programme Director Janet Smyth introduces the story of The Tattoo Fox.
  • Jack Straw and Allan Little | Jack Straw and Allan Little
  • Jack Straw |
  • |
  • Cerys Matthews plays guitar | Cerys Matthews plays guitar in the Gardens
  • Buglers | There were even some buglers in The Tattoo Fox event
  • Alex Clark chairing Nadeem Aslam |
  • Sandi Toksvig | Sandi Toksvig
  • A member of the audience asks John Taylor a question |
  • A question from the audience |
  • Alistair Moffat |
  • Alexander McCall Smith with James Naughtie |
  • William McIlvanney was joined on stage by Alex Salmond |
  • William McIlvanney |
  • Stuart Kelly interviews graphic novelist Chris Ware |
  • The graphic novels section in our bookshop |
  • Simon Mayo takes to the stage |
  • Ron Rash reads while Manuel Rivas looks on |
  • A little bit of late night filming in the Gardens |
  • Poppy Ackroyd at Jura Unbound |
  • Mark Lawson |
  • Manuel Rivas |
  • Scotland's National Poet Liz Lochhead |
  • Liam McIlvanney |
  • Jonathan Agnew talks to Ruth Wishart |
  • John Taylor |
  • John Lemke performs at Jura Unbound |
  • Two of the world's finest graphic novelists, Joe Sacco and Chris Ware, take to the stage |
  • Jane Gardam |
  • Happy Book Festival audience |
  • Enjoying the show |
  • Charlotte Square Gardens in the evening |
  • Blue skies over Charlotte Square Gardens |
  • Andrew Jamieson and Damien M Love |
  • The Fabulous Baker Brothers pose for the press |
  • Doug Johnstone and Laura Lippman |
  • David Roberts celebrates ten years of Dirty Bertie |
  • David Peace |
  • Crow paper sculpture left in honour of Iain Banks' The Crow Road |
  • Cerys Matthews making music on stage |
  • Busy Bookshop |
  • Blueprint debate about copyright in our Guardian Spiegeltent |
  • Lucky finders of some of the paper sculptures |
  • 30 fantastic paper sculptures to celebrate our 30th anniversary |
  • The Fabulous Baker Brothers on stage |
  • The Edinburgh World Writers' Conference returns to Edinburgh |
  • Will Gompertz demystifies modern art |
  • Viktor Mayer-Schönberger talks big data |
  • Vic Galloway talks about Fife's famous music scene |
  • Ryan Van Winkle presents Jura Unbound: Reel Iraq |
  • Musical entertainment at Jura Unbound: Reel Iraq |
  • The audience was up dancing during Jura Unbound: Reel Iraq |
  • Billy Letford reads at Jura Unbound: Reel Iraq |
  • Jura Unbound with Gutter magazine |
  • Damian Barr reads at Jura Unbound with Gutter magazine |
  • Allan Radcliff on stage during Jura Unbound with Gutter magazine |
  • Jura Unbound: The Bookshop Band |
  • Jura Unbound: Reel Iraq |
  • Tracey Thorn |
  • Tom Palmer held a penalty shoot out during his event |
  • Tom Palmer |
  • Charlatans front man Tim Burgess in conversation with Ian Rankin |
  • Two fine novelists Tash Aw and Rawi Hage |
  • Susan Rice, Chair of the Book Festival board, introduces Ian Goldin |
  • Stewart Lee at Jura Unbound |
  • Kate O’Hearn brought knights and monsters with her |
  • Rupert Everett signs copies of his book |
  • Rupert Everett reveals all to Charlotte Higgins |
  • Robert Peston |
  • Attentive audience in one of our reading workshops |
  • Pippa Goldschmidt reads from her debut novel The Falling Sky |
  • A happy audience |
  • Ticket checking |
  • Deckchairs in the sunshine |
  • Pandas |
  • Neil Forsyth reads at Jura Unbound |
  • A monster in the bookshop |
  • Performance poetry at its best with Michael Pedersen (while Luke Wright listens in) |
  • Maggie O'Farrell |
  • Luke Wright |
  • Keith Gray leads a reading workshop on The Wasp Factory |
  • Book Festival Guest Selector Kate Mosse |
  • Historian John Tolan |
  • John Browne talks about the elements |
  • Jenny Eclair talks about her new novel Life, Death and Vanilla Slices |
  • James Kakalios gives science a superhero twist |
  • Ian Rankin talks to Alan Little |
  • Ian Goldin |
  • Book Festival entrance at night |
  • Edwin Morgan Poetry Award event |
  • Daniel Rachel sheds light on the art of songwriting |
  • Dan Rhodes hosts Jura Unbound |
  • Colm Toibin hosts a reading workshop on Sons and Lovers |
  • Colm Tóibín |
  • Charlotte Higgins talks to Stuart Kelly |
  • Book Festival Illustrator in Residence Barroux |
  • A question from the audience |
  • Ann Widdecombe |
  • Amit CHaudhuri |
  • Alice Thompson reads from Burnt Island |
  • Alfred Brendel speaks to Jonathan Mills |
  • Night time in the Guardian Spiegeltent |
  • |
  • Signing sign |
  • Another great Story Shop reading |
  • A quick interview in the Signing Tent |
  • Ka-pow! |
  • Our Illustrator in Residence Barroux helps a youngster get involved with his Big Draw |
  • |
  • Will Morris and Edward Ross talk graphic novels |
  • Some props from Jura Unbound with Illicit Ink |
  • Emma Vieceli does some live drawing at Jura Unbound |
  • Elephant art at Jura Unbound with Illicit Ink |
  • Live drawing with Jura Unbound and Illicit Ink |
  • Jura Unbound with Illicit Ink |
  • Words and pictures at Jura Unbound with Illicit Ink |
  • Jura Unbound with Illicit Ink |
  • Happy crowd in the Guardian Spiegeltent |
  • The-art-of-reading-graphic- |
  • Stephen Collins and Tom Gauld appeared as part of the Book Festival's Stripped programme |
  • Sonia Martinez and Craig Silvey |
  • A cheeky snooze |
  • Sandi Toksvig signing books for her fans |
  • Robbie Morrison and Jim Murray |
  • The Art of Reading Graphic Novels workshop |
  • Waiting in the wings: Neil Gaiman and Craig Silvey get ready to get on stage for Literary Death Match |
  • Everyone's favourite televisual gardner - Monty Don |
  • Mike Berners-Lee talks global warming |
  • Comics legend Melinda Gebbie |
  • Margaret Atwood |
  • Children's Laureate Malorie Blackman |
  • Literary Death Match comes to Jura Unbound |
  • Literary Death Match with a visual twist at Jura Unbound |
  • isual twist at Jura Unbound |
  • isual twist at Jura Unbound |
  • isual twist at Jura Unbound |
  • A huddle of Literary Death Match judges: Dawn O'Porter, Craig Silvey and Neil Gaiman |
  • Backstage interview |
  • Our Info Desk staff - happy to help |
  • A happy Grant Morrison fan |
  • Grant Morrison |
  • |
  • Francesca Simon on stage |
  • Casting a vote in the Book Festival's First Book Award |
  • Amin Haddad and Eskenderella bring revolutionary poetry from Tahrir Square to Charlotte Square |
  • Amin Haddad and Eskenderella bring revolutionary poetry from Tahrir Square to Charlotte Square |
  • Amin Haddad and Eskenderella bring revolutionary poetry from Tahrir Square to Charlotte Square |
  • Duncan Clark talks climate change |
  • Douglas Hurd and Edward Young sign copies of their book Disraeli |
  • Derek Landy meets his young fans |
  • Dawn O'Porter speaking about her debut novel Paper Aeroplanes |
  • |
  • Chris Close photographs Patrick Ness |
  • Caitlin Moran |
  • Beautiful books |
  • Big Draw fun |
  • Ben Aaronovitch, Steve Cole and Justin Richards talk Dr Who |
  • Our Illustrator in Residence Barroux shows us how it's done |
  • Adrian Todd Zuniga introduces Literary Death Match at Jura Unbound |
  • Sharing a book |
  • The Guardian's Charlotte Higgins signs copies of her book Under Another Sky |
  • Sorting ticket stubs |
  • Michael Pedersen at his post-event book signing |
  • Jackie Kay |
  • Books Words Ideas: The City of Literature info stand |
  • Return to warehouse |
  • Closed for event preparation |
  • Backstage photoshoot |
  • Another wonderful Story Shop reading |
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