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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

2016 Book Festival Highlights

Edna O'Brien

Edna O'Brien

A decade since she wrote her last novel, this great Irish writer discusses an astonishing story that charts the consequences of a fatal attraction © Alan McCredie

Pilgrimer
Frederick Forsyth with Ian Rankin
Edna O'Brien
Edna O'Brien
Martin Ford
Edna O'Brien: A decade since she wrote her last novel, this great Irish writer discusses an astonishing story that charts the consequences of a fatal attraction © Alan McCredie
  • S J Parris & Robyn Young | Two authors of spellbinding historical fiction in the Spiegeltent   © Robin Mair
  • S J Parris & Robyn Young | Two authors of spellbinding historical fiction in the Spiegeltent   © Robin Mair
  • A C Grayling | Philosopher A C Grayling explores the intellectual legacy of H G Wells ©  Robin Mair
  • Charlotte Square Gardens | The sun shines down on the Prince Albert statue  © Helen Jones
  • Entrance Tent | A busy opening weekend at the Book Festival © Helen Jones
  • Shirin Ebadi | The first Muslim woman and first Iranian to win a Nobel Peace Prize during her press photocall © Alan McCredie
  • The Gruffalo | Who says there's no such thing as the Gruffalo? © Robin Mair
  • Children's Bookshop | © Robin Mair
  • Alpha Signing | Illustrator Barroux takes part in a book signing after the enthralling Alpha event
  • Alpha | Barroux presents the world première performance of Alpha, a son-et-lumière dramatic realisation of his powerful graphic novel © Robin Mair
  • Alpha | Illustrator Barroux hard at work © Robin Mair
  • Ali Smith | Lots of laughter with Ali Smith and Jackie Kay © Robin Mair
  • Ali Smith | The Baillie Gifford Main Theatre programme explodes into life with one of Britain's best-respected writers © Robin Mair
  • Mervyn King | Former Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King discusses his insightful and important book, The End of Alchemy © Helen Jones
  • Mervyn King | Former Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King discusses his insightful and important book, The End of Alchemy © Helen Jones
  • Dancers in Charlotte Square Gardens | Africanised! dancers bring high energy to the opening of the Book Festival © Alan McCredie
  • Dancers in Charlotte Square Gardens | Africanised! dancers bring high energy to the opening of the Book Festival © Alan McCredie
  • Kate Tempest | The playwright-rapper-poet presents her electrifying debut novel © Alan McCredie
  • Sarah Howe | Two of the most powerful young voices in British poetry open the Book Festival 2016 © Alan McCredie
  • William Letford | Two of the most powerful young voices in British poetry open the Book Festival 2016 © Alan McCredie
  • Sarah Howe & William Letford | Two of the most powerful young voices in British poetry open the Book Festival 2016 © Alan McCredie
  • Alexander Masters | Alexander Masters shares the true, shocking and poignant story of a mysterious diarist © Alan McCredie
  • Story Box | Gooey fun in Story Box © Alan McCredie
  • Children's Bookshop | Lovely scenes in the Baillie Gifford Children's Bookshop © Alan McCredie
  • Julia Donaldson | Festival favourite Julia Donaldson back with more singing, dancing and rhyming fun © Helen Jones
  • Julia Donaldson with The Gruffalo! | Festival favourite Julia Donaldson back with more singing, dancing and rhyming fun © Helen Jones
  • Julia Donaldson | Festival favourite Julia Donaldson back with more singing, dancing and rhyming fun © Helen Jones
  • Laura Bates Book Signing | The founder of the influential online project Everyday Sexism presents Girl Up, a powerful contribution to 21st century feminism © Robin Mair
  • Laura Bates | The founder of the influential online project Everyday Sexism presents Girl Up, a powerful contribution to 21st century feminism © Robin Mair
  • Eimear McBride | The Irish novelist introduces her much-anticipated follow up to A Girl is a Half-formed Thing  © Robin Mair
  • Eimear McBride | The Irish novelist introduces her much-anticipated follow up to A Girl is a Half-formed Thing  © Robin Mair
  • Jo Cotterill Book Signing | Children's author Jo Cotterill meets her fans © Alan McCredie
  • Liz Lochhead | The former Scottish Makar introduces a collection that confirms her as a poet at the peak of her powers © Alan McCredie
  • Liz Lochhead | The former Scottish Makar introduces a collection that confirms her as a poet at the peak of her powers © Alan McCredie
  • Chris Packham | The star of BBC's Springwatch talks about ambition, motivation and dealing with his demons © Alan McCredie
  • Chris Packham Book Signing | The star of BBC's Springwatch talks about ambition, motivation and dealing with his demons © Alan McCredie
  • Billy Bragg | Live songs in the Baillie Gifford Main Theatre from Billy Bragg © Alan McCredie
  • Billy Bragg | Bragg discusses an annotated collection of his best-loved songs with Vic Galloway © Alan McCredie
  • Jacqueline Wilson | The multi-award winning children's author presents her latest story © Helen Jones
  • Alexei Sayle | Lots of laughter in a raucous event with Alexei Sayle © Robin Mair
  • Zaffar Kunial with Jackie Kay | Zaffar Kunial and Jackie Kay discuss what it means to be a British writer of mixed heritage in the 21st century © Helen Jones
  • Zaffar Kunial with Jackie Kay | Zaffar Kunial and Jackie Kay discuss what it means to be a British writer of mixed heritage in the 21st century © Helen Jones
  • Jess Smith | Jess Smith sets the record straight about Scottish Travellers in a fascinating event © Robin Mair
  • Enjoying an ice cream in the sunny Charlotte Square Gardens | © Robin Mair
  • Charlotte Square Gardens | © Robin Mair
  • Mike Shepherd | Mike Shepherd gives an entertaining explanation of how the oil production industry works, and the challenges ahead © Helen Jones
  • Philippa Gregory | The bestselling novelist and acclaimed historian introduces her new novel, Three Sisters, Three Queens © Alan McCredie
  • Philippa Gregory | The bestselling novelist and acclaimed historian introduces her new novel, Three Sisters, Three Queens © Alan McCredie
  • The James Tait Black Prizes - Benjamin Markovits | Winner of the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction - Benjamin Markovits © Alan McCredie
  • The James Tait Black Prizes - James Shapiro | Winner of the James Tait Black Prize for Biography - James Shapiro © Alan McCredie
  • The James Tait Black Prizes - Sally Magnusson | Sally Magnusson hosts an exciting evening as the winner of the James Tait Black Book Prizes are revealed © Alan McCredie
  • Charlotte Square Gardens | A gloriously sunny day in the Gardens
  • Alaa Al Aswany | One of the Arab world's most influential voices discusses freedom of speech in a post-2011 Egypt whose government has tried to silence him © Helen Jones
  • Winning Fiction in Translation | 2016 Man Booker International Prize winners Han Kang (writer) and Deborah Smith (translator) join Man Booker Chair of Judges Boyd Tonkin to interrogate the winning novel © Helen Jones
  • Richard T Kelly & Mark Lawson with Val McDermid | © Robin Mair
  • The Big Friendly Willow Sculpture | Willow artist David Powell is joined by Story Box helpers to create a giant willow sculpture of Roald Dahl's Big Friendly Giant © Robin Mair
  • Tracy Chevalier | The author of Girl with a Pearl Earring brings another unforgettable story with At the Edge of the Orchard © Robin Mair
  • Joyce McMillan | The theatre critic talks to David Greig about the defining moments in the last 30 years of Scottish theatre © Robin Mair
  • David Goldblatt | The sports journalist takes his Book Festival audience on a whistlestop tour of the history of the OIympic Games © Robin Mair
  • Tom Devine | The Scottish historian asks if Scotland can really be described as an abolitionist nation, untainted by a slavery past © Helen Jones
  • Howard Jacobson | The popular Man Booker winner discusses his new reconfiguration of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice © Alan McCredie
  • Howard Jacobson | The popular Man Booker winner discusses his new reconfiguration of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice © Alan McCredie
  • Carol Ann Duffy With Jackie Kay | The UK Poet Laureate and new Scots Makar appear on stage for the first time together at the Book Festival  © Alan McCredie
  • Alexander McCall Smith | Irresistibly entertaining, McCall Smith is a cornerstone of Edinburgh literary life and a global publishing sensation  © Alan McCredie
  • Alexander McCall Smith | Irresistibly entertaining, McCall Smith is a cornerstone of Edinburgh literary life and a global publishing sensation  © Alan McCredie
  • A L Kennedy | The wildly talented author presents her first novel for five years, a tale profoundly in tune with our times © Alan McCredie
  • Pilgrimer | James Robertson takes part in a special event of readings and music © Alan McCredie
  • Pilgrimer | Karine Polwart takes part in a special event of readings and music © Alan McCredie
  • Frederick Forsyth with Ian Rankin | This intriguing man shares his unique memoir with Ian Rankin and a packed Baillie Gifford Main Theatre © Alan McCredie
  • Edna O'Brien | A decade since she wrote her last novel, this great Irish writer discusses an astonishing story that charts the consequences of a fatal attraction © Alan McCredie
  • Edna O'Brien | A decade since she wrote her last novel, this great Irish writer discusses an astonishing story that charts the consequences of a fatal attraction © Alan McCredie
  • Martin Ford | The Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur argues that we must make fundamental decisions to ensure technology benefits all © Helen Jones
  • Daniel Hahn on the Man Booker International Prize Winner | Hahn The Vegetarian by South Korean novelist Han Kang  © Helen Jones
  • Agnes Torok & Chimwemwe Undi | Two fantastic spoken word performers speak with feeling  © Helen Jones
  • Agnes Torok & Chimwemwe Undi | Two fantastic spoken word performers speak with feeling  © Helen Jones
  • Agnes Torok & Chimwemwe Undi | Two fantastic spoken word performers speak with feeling  © Helen Jones
  • Tim Burgess with Ian Rankin | The lead singer of The Charlatans discusses his passion for vinyl with Ian Rankin © Robin Mair
  • Tim Burgess with Ian Rankin | The lead singer of The Charlatans discusses his passion for vinyl with Ian Rankin © Robin Mair
  • Marina Warner | The chair of the Man Booker International Prize jury last year introduces her fantastically feminist fairy tales © Robin Mair
  • Talking to Animals with Sophie Thompson | The actress and author Sophie Thompson introduces her delightful debut, Zoo Boy © Helen Jones
  • Simon Callow | Callow reveals an actor’s insights into the highly complex artist, Orson Welles © Helen Jones
  • Shappi Khorsandi | The UK-Iranian stand-up comic unearths a witty, sometimes shocking debut novel © Helen Jones
  • Unbound - Tongue Fu | Late night fun in the Spiegeltent with this riotous experiment in live literature, music and improvisation © Robin Mair
  • Patrick Kingsley & Charlotte McDonald-Gibson with Bidisha | Two talented journalists discuss what really caused the refugee crisis © Robin Mair
  • Jeanette Winterson | The author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit discusses the challenges of reframing Shakespeare's work in the 21st century © Robin Mair
  • Mostafa Salameh | The devout Muslim, committed to spreading the message of tolerant Islam, shares his remarkable story in Dreams of a Refugee © Robin Mair
  • James Kelman | With the publication of Dirt Road, Scotland’s only Booker Prize winner joins a Scottish publisher for the first time in decades © Alan McCredie
  • Lionel Shriver | The bestselling author of We Need to Talk about Kevin looks ahead to an America of the future stunted by a financial crisis in her new novel © Alan McCredie
  • Lionel Shriver | The bestselling author of We Need to Talk about Kevin looks ahead to an America of the future stunted by a financial crisis in her new novel © Alan McCredie
  • Gregor Fisher | The actor and comedian best know as Rab C Nesbitt shares his life story © Alan McCredie
  • Stewart Lee | The 'godfather of British stand up' shares a collection of his best writing © Alan McCredie
  • Stewart Lee | The 'godfather of British stand up' shares a collection of his best writing © Alan McCredie
  • Nina Stibbe | The wildly popular author brings her new book, Paradise Lodge, to the Book Festival © Alan McCredie
  • Frank Gardner | The BBC Security Correspondent turns his hand to fiction © Alan McCredie
  • Frank Gardner | The BBC Security Correspondent turns his hand to fiction © Alan McCredie
  • Andy Stanton: Me and Mr Gum | Andy Stanton celebrates a decade of entertaining escapades with Mr Gum © Alan McCredie
  • Jackie Kay with Nicola Sturgeon | Scotland's First Minister meets her Makar © Alan McCredie
  • Jackie Kay with Nicola Sturgeon | Scotland's First Minister meets her Makar © Alan McCredie
  • Alan Little's Big Debate | Allan Little debates if the transatlantic era has come to an end with Menzies Campbell, Steve Erlanger and Lionel Shriver © Alan McCredie
  • Luke Wright | Luke Wright delivers a hurricane of a performance © Helen Jones
  • What I Learned from Johnny Bevan with Luke Wright | Luke Wright delivers a hurricane of a performance © Helen Jones
  • Hollie McNish | McNish performs from her poetry book for parental beginners © Helen Jones
  • Hollie McNish | McNish performs from her poetry book for parental beginners © Helen Jones
  • Stuart MacBride | The Aberdonian crime writer shares his latest gruesome plot © Robin Mair
  • Alice Oswald | Alice Oswald brings pulse-quickening poetry to the Baillie Gifford Main Theatre © Robin Mair
  • The Edwin Morgan Poetry Award | Penny Boxall is revealed as the winner of the 2016 Edwin Morgan Poetry Award © Helen Jones
  • Lemn Sissay | The hugely successful poet meets fans after his event © Robin Mair
  • Lemn Sissay | Sissay glides between the political and personal as he shares poems from Gold from the Stone © Robin Mair
  • Scottish Chamber Orchestra's Instrument Armoury | Musical fun in Story Box with teh Scottish Chamber Orchestra © Helen Jones
  • Scottish Chamber Orchestra's Instrument Armoury | You're never too young to come and join the fun in Story Box © Helen Jones
  • Prue Leith | The celebrated food writer and restaurateur reads from her new novel © Helen Jones
  • Jessie Burton & Susan Fletcher | © Robin Mair
  • Relaxing in Charlotte Square Gardens | A sunny day in the Gardens © Robin Mair
  • Michael Morpurgo | The former Children's Laureate introduces his new novel, inspired by the true story of a man who might have stopped WWII © Helen Jones
  • Val McDermid | The crime-writing Fifer launches another of the gripping thrillers that have turned her into one of Britain's hottest writers © Alan McCredie
  • Tom Devine | Devine outlines the past, present and likely future of the UK © Alan McCredie
  • James Naughtie | The former presenter of the Today programme introduces his new spy novel © Alan McCredie
  • Sue Perkins | The Great British Bake Off co-presenter shares tales of her life in her memoir, Spectacles © Alan McCredie
  • Kenny MacAskill | MacAskill shares his own account of the Lockerbie bombing, the trial and the turmoil that has ensued © Alan McCredie
  • Joan Bakewell | Feisty and fearless, the Labour Peer discusses her acclaimed new book of autobiographical essays with Ruth Wishart © Alan McCredie
  • Joan Bakewell | Feisty and fearless, the Labour Peer discusses her acclaimed new book of autobiographical essays with Ruth Wishart © Alan McCredie
  • Jim Haynes | Jim Haynes celebrates his 60-year liaison with Edinburgh © Alan McCredie
  • Jim Haynes | Jim Haynes celebrates his 60-year liaison with Edinburgh © Alan McCredie
  • Wilko Johnson | The founder of Dr Feelgood tells of his life with and without cancer in his memoir Don’t You Leave Me Here © Helen Jones
  • Mark Haddon Book Signing | The author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time signs copies of his new book of short stories © Robin Mair
  • Susan Calman | An emotional event with the Glasgow-based comedian © Alan McCredie
  • Quintin Jardine | The hugely successful crime author returns to the Book Festival © Alan McCredie
  • Janet Ellis | The former Blue Peter presenter introduces her debut novel, The Butcher's Hook © Alan McCredie
  • Alvaro Enrigue | One of Mexico's most exciting novelists talks about his new tale with Book Festival Director Nick Barley © Helen Jones
  • Baillie Gifford Schools Programme | A happy child enjoying our Schools Programme © Robin Mair
  • Charlotte Square Gardens | A beautifully sunny day at the Book Festival © Robin Mair
  • Ruby Wax | The comedian offers insight into debilitating stress-related illnesses © Alan McCredie
  • Ruby Wax | The comedian offers insight into debilitating stress-related illnesses © Alan McCredie
  • Ian Rankin | The Book Festival favourite brings back Rebus to a packed Main Theatre © Alan McCredie
  • Erica Jong | The bestselling icon of the sexual revolution, Erica Jong speaks to Ruth Wishart about her latest book, Fear of Dying © Alan McCredie
  • Prince Albert Statue, Charlotte Square Gardens | The sun shines down on the Prince Albert memorial statue in Charlotte Square Gardens © Alan McCredie
  • Paul Morley | The musician discusses the life of David Bowie © Robin Mair
  • Louis de Bernières | The Captain Corelli creator reads from his latest poetry book, Of Love and Desire © Robin Mair
  • Charlotte Square Gardens | Having fun in the Gardens © Robin Mair
  • Stanley Odd | Scotland's finest hip-hop band rock a Main Theatre filled with schoolchildren © Helen Jones
  • Stanley Odd | Scotland's finest hip-hop band rock a Main Theatre filled with schoolchildren © Helen Jones
  • Stanley Odd | Scotland's finest hip-hop band rock a Main Theatre filled with schoolchildren © Helen Jones
  • Peter Frankopan | The Silk Roads author shares his new history of the world © Alan McCredie
  • Jonathan Dimbleby | The political commentator and broadcaster signs copies of his new book, The Battle of the Atlantic © Alan McCredie
  • James Robertson | One of Scotland's most inventive authors shares his latest madcap tale © Helen Jones
  • A happy child in our Story Box | Our Story Box events are free for children to enjoy every day of the Book Festival © Helen Jones
  • Mark Beaumont | The endurance cyclist vividly recounts his most recent adventure, riding the entire length of Africa © Robin Mair
  • Mark Beaumont | The endurance cyclist vividly recounts his most recent adventure, riding the entire length of Africa © Robin Mair
  • Winners of the Euan's Guide Accessible Festival Best Pop-Up Venue Award | Book Festival Director Nick Barley is presented with the award by members of the Euan's Guide team © Robin Mair
  • Lots of schoolchildren on our walkways | Our ever-popular Schools Programme brings schools from far and wide to Charlotte Square Gardens © Robin Mair
  • Atinuke | The African storyteller brings to life tales of Anna Hibiscus © Robin Mair
  • Aarathi Prasad | Aarathi Prasad discusses  Indian medicine as an eclectic and vibrant reflection of a fascinating country © Robin Mair
  • Don Paterson | The multi award-winning poet's verse provides the rhythm for an event featuring his musical band, The Don Paterson Situation © Helen Jones
  • Don Paterson | The multi award-winning poet's verse provides the rhythm for an event featuring his musical band, The Don Paterson Situation © Helen Jones
  • Chris Boardman | The 1992 Olympic gold medallist discusses his memoir Triumphs & Turbulence © Helen Jones
  • Chris Boardman | The 1992 Olympic gold medallist discusses his memoir Triumphs & Turbulence © Helen Jones
  • Cecelia Ahern and Teri Terry | Two brilliant writers challenge our preconceptions of right and wrong, good and evil, and all in between.© Helen Jones
  • Sara Khan Book Signing | One of Woman’s Hour Top Ten Influencers of 2015 signs copies of her book, The Battle for British Islam © Robin Mair
  • Joanne Harris | The author of heart-warming dramas such as Chocolat reads from her new psychological thriller, Different Class © Robin Mair
  • Irenosen Okojie | The First Book Award nominee reads from her astonishly assured debut novel © Robin Mair
  • Bee Rowlatt & Jean-Christophe Rufin | Journalist Bee Rowlatt and French diplomat Jean-Christophe Rufin come together to discuss their books © Robin Mair
  • Love Song to Lavender Menace | Playwright James Ley and cast tell the story of Edinburgh's radical LGBT bookshops in this special performance © Robin Mair
  • Nothing but the Poem on George Mackay Brown | A group enjoy one of our Reading Workshops in the Writers' Retreat © Robin Mair
  • Ray Mears | The popular survival expert discusses his time in the largest forest on the planet, the circumpolar Boreal woodlands of the North © Alan McCredie
  • Packie Bonner | The Celtic goalkeeping legend tells the Book Festival audience about his extraordinary career © Alan McCredie
  • Miranda Sawyer | The journalist and broadcaster recounts the stories of those like her who are navigating the choppy waters of their 40s and 50s © Alan McCredie
  • Jonathan Safran Foer | The bestselling US author of Everything is Illuminated launches his first novel in 11 years, Here I Am © Alan McCredie
  • Jonathan Safran Foer | The bestselling US author of Everything is Illuminated launches his first novel in 11 years, Here I Am © Alan McCredie
  • Frances Hardinge & Sarah Perry | Two talented authors discuss their novels, both set at a time when science clashed with religion © Alan McCredie
  • Irvine Welsh | With The Blade Artist, Irvine Welsh returns to the vicious Trainspotting character who’s emerged as the best reflection of our angry times © Alan McCredie
  • Alan Cumming | The Scottish actor has gathered some of his best anecdotes and photographs into a cheeky book, You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams © Alan McCredie
  • Alan Cumming | The Scottish actor has gathered some of his best anecdotes and photographs into a cheeky book, You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams © Alan McCredie
  • Judith Kerr | With her first new book in 37 years, the much-loved author-illustrator returns with Mister Cleghorn's Seal © Helen Jones
  • Chris Riddell | The Children's Laureate meets some of his young fans at his Book Signing © Robin Mair
  • Francesca Simon | The creator of literature’s naughtiest boy discusses his latest antics in the final (yes, final!) book, Horrid Henry’s Cannibal Curse.© Helen Jones
  • Alex T Smith | Our 2016 Illustrator in Residence brings live drawing to our Imagination Lab © Helen Jones
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