All Events

There are events for just about every age and interest at the Book Festival, bringing readers and writers together for inspiration, entertainment and discussion. Over 900 authors appear in around 800 events, including novelists, poets, scientists, sportsmen, illustrators, comics creators, historians, musicians, biographers, Nobel and Booker prize-winners and many more besides.

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    Browse this year's themes

    Peter Stanford

    Sprinkling Angel Dust

    Friday 16 August 12:30 - 13:30

    Peter Stanford Buy Tickets
    In a recent poll, one in ten British people claimed to have felt the presence of celestial beings. What does this belief mean about human existence and the state of the cosmos? Broadcaster, journalist and author Peter Stanford has written about many...

    Jake Hope & Amy McKay on Prize-Winning Picture Books

    Reading Workshop

    Friday 16 August 13:00 - 14:30

    Jake Hope & Amy McKay on Prize-Winning Picture Books Buy Tickets
    The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is the oldest and most prestigious UK children's book award for illustration. Running since 1955, it's been won by luminaries such as Shirley Hughes, Helen Oxenbury, Raymond Briggs and Lauren Child. This workshop, led by...

    Jackie Kay

    National Treasures

    Friday 16 August 13:30 - 14:30

    Jackie Kay Buy Tickets
    Three years into her stint as Scots Makar, Jackie Kay’s exuberance and insight have helped her bring poetry to the people. Today, she reads a selection of new poems inspired by her travels around Scotland. Kay also discusses the play of her much-loved...

    Celebrating Diversity with Mylo Freeman

    Age 3-6

    Friday 16 August 13:30 - 14:15

    Celebrating Diversity with Mylo Freeman Buy Tickets
    Mylo Freeman has published over 50 books with her trademark colourful illustrations – and now you can be part of them too! Mylo shows you how she creates her amazing artwork, as well as reading from the latest in her bestselling Princess Arabella...

    Kate Hamer & Doug Johnstone

    And the Lawlessness Won

    Friday 16 August 13:45 - 14:45

    Kate Hamer & Doug Johnstone Buy Tickets
    The tenth crime novel from Edinburgh’s Doug Johnstone, Breakers follows a teenager trying to escape his dysfunctional family whilst implicated in the assault of a crime-lord’s wife. In Crushed, Kate Hamer’s follow-up to the bestselling The Girl in...

    Christopher Harding

    Rebellion in the East

    Friday 16 August 14:00 - 15:00

    Christopher Harding Buy Tickets
    According to Christopher Harding, a senior lecturer in Asian History at the University of Edinburgh, Japan is not the country some outsiders believe it to be. While in many people's minds curious pop culture blends with stark social conformity,...

    Masterclass: Writing Short Stories

    Hone Your Creative Writing

    Friday 16 August 14:00 - 16:30

    Masterclass: Writing Short Stories Buy Tickets
    Join award-winning writer Eley Williams to explore different approaches to short story writing. Williams is a lecturer in creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London and also tutors at The Poetry School. In 2018, she was awarded the James...

    Olivia Laing & Nafissa Thompson-Spires

    How to Read a Novel

    Friday 16 August 14:00 - 15:00

    Olivia Laing & Nafissa Thompson-Spires Buy Tickets
    Created with the University of Edinburgh and now in its third successful year, our Massive Open Online Course on How to Read a Novel uses the 2019 James Tait Black Fiction Prize shortlist to illustrate lessons. Join course author Dr Alexandra Lawrie and...

    Rose George

    Bloody Fascinating

    Friday 16 August 14:15 - 15:15

    Rose George Buy Tickets
    Nine Pints is a profoundly intelligent book about blood by one of Britain’s most talented writers. Who knew that the liquid coursing through our veins could be such a rewarding subject? Today, Rose George recounts her visits to a Welsh leech farm and...

    Fashion a Feathered Friend

    All Ages

    Friday 16 August 14:30 - 16:30

    Fashion a Feathered Friend
    Author-illustrator Lucy Volpin loves to draw, paint and create. Drop into Story Box today and help her fashion an incredible flock of feathered friends. Design your own bright, bold bird using lots of arty materials and then let them take flight with...

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