ED2012 News ED2012 Words & Events

Book Festival programme launched

By | Published on Friday 22 June 2012

Edinburgh International Book Festival

The 2012 programme is out for the Edinburgh Festival’s literary wing, the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which will this year see over 800 authors, poets, illustrators, journalists and opinion formers talking and debating the world of literature, and literature’s view of the world.

Once again some ‘guest selectors’ have been involved in the programming of the festival, with broadcasters James Naughtie and Sue MacGregor curating strands called ‘Britain Today’ and ‘A Survival Kit For The Information Age’ respectively, and children’s writer Vivian French inputting on the always popular kids’ programme.

Among the authors due to speak about their latest works are Ian McEwan, James Kelman, Will Self, Pankaj Mishra, Pat Barker, Gavin Esler, Louise Welsh, Zadie Smith, Howard Jacobson, Val McDermid and A N Wilson, while Chris Riddell, political cartoonist for The Economist and The Observer and co-author of ‘The Edge Chronicles’ children’s books, will be ‘illustrator in residence’.

On top of that little lot, the festival will also play host to the start of the Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference 2012-13, where over five days 50 authors will debate the hottest literary topics in front of a live audience in the festival’s main space. Conference events, which are inspired by a historic gathering of writers in 1962, will also be broadcast online, enabling people across the globe to join in the conversation.

Commenting on the programme at large, Book Festival Director Nick Barley told ThreeWeeks: “We are delighted to showcase some of the best Scottish writing, from well-established authors to debut novelists, as well as welcoming some extraordinary literary talent from around the world to help us rethink aspects of society that affect our everyday lives. This is a year for taking stock about what matters to us in a time of uncertainty, doubt and data overload…we look forward to a lively, informed and informative debate”.

Tickets for this year’s Book Festival, which will run from 11-27 Aug, go on sale bright and early on 29 Jun. You can browse this year’s programme at www.edbookfest.co.uk



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