With a brand new venue in the heart of the Festival City, Edinburgh International Book Festival has its sights clearly focused on the future – with a host of events from authors from more than 40 different countries.
After leaving Charlotte Square and the Art College behind, the much loved Book Festival, which runs from August 10-25, is now in the brand new Edinburgh Futures Institute, a refurbished hospital on the edge of the Meadows.
Inside, wards have been transformed into workshop spaces, the rooms are linked by beautifully restored stone corridors and a large grassy area outside will be home to bookshops, cafe and a return of the much-missed Spiegeltent.
In keeping with the Future theme, Booker Prize winner Margaret Atwood has written a novel for the ‘Future Library’ in Oslo – to be read one hundred years from now by future generations. She appears remotely in ‘Practical Utopias – An Exploration of the Possible’ on August 10. Also making a remote appearance is literary superstar Salman Rushdie, in conversation with Mishal Husain on August 17 at the McEwan Hall.
Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson, will be sharing a stage again with a comedic trip down memory lane in conversation with Jackie Kay on August 10. Big hitters Val McDermid, Ian Rankin and Matt Haig will also appear as part of the Front List programme at McEwan Hall in Bristo Square.
The popular Weirdos Book Club with Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd comes live from the Spiegeltent on August 12 – offering the audience “a space for the lonely outsider to feel accepted and appreciated”. And there’s a visit from breakaway podcaster Blindboy Boatclub, one half of the bin bag wearing Rubberbandits who appears on August 22 with ‘Look at My Art Instead’.
Irish literary giant Colm Tóibín will be talking about his new novel The Call of Home on August 20, while Andrew O Hagan will discuss humour with the Spiegeltent audience on August 21.
The poetry game is strong this year, with appearances from Lemn Sissay, Kathleen Jamie, Holly McNish and Liz Lochhead, who will be introducing some never published poems. Mersey Poet and popular broadcaster Roger McGough celebrates 65 Years of Poetry on August 13.
There’s a chance to see broadcaster Lorraine Kelly talking about her debut novel ‘The Island Swimmer’ on August 16. And the delightful Marian Keyes will be in Edinburgh on August 15 to talk about her new novel: ‘Disaster Averted’.
Politicos can look forward to seeing broadcaster James O’Brien and catching up with Mayor Manchester Andy Burnham, both appearing at the Book Festival on August 12.
For crime fans Lisa Jewell will be talking about her psychological thriller ‘None of this is True’, on August 15, while Irvine Welsh will discuss his latest crime novel Resolution, on August 23. Alexander McCall Smith will be updating fans of his Edinburgh and Botswana based fiction on Monday 19.
Jim Reid and William Reid of Scottish band The Jesus and Mary Chain will be in conversation with Nicola Meighan on August 14 about their memoir ‘Never Understood.’
There are plenty of treats for younger readers. Greg James and Chris Smith host an event on August 10, based on their new book ‘The Twits Next Door’. Julia Donaldson will be introducing ‘Jonty Gentoo, The Adventures of a Penguin’ on August 24 – followed by a chance to meet the Gruffalo and join in with songs, dances and games.
In a very special event in the Spiegeltent on Saturday 10 Julian Clary will be performing a live reading of Oscar Wilde’s fairytale ‘The Happy Prince’ in a new adaptation by Harry Woodgate.
And for those who remember the Futures Institute in its previous incarnation ‘Words from the Ward’ on August 11, features stories submitted about the Old Royal Infirmary.
For all events, times and prices go to Edbookfest.co.uk or pick up the programme from venues and bookshops.
