The overarching theme of this year’s Book Festival is Let’s Talk – and the latest events announced today are going to be talked about as well as listened to.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival’s vibrant programme for 2014 places the Scottish independence debate in a broader context. Through a series of dialogues with a host of leading national and international voices, the Festival offers a forum for authors and audiences to share facts, opinions and hopes about Scotland’s future. Two new events were announced today in which politicians at the heart of Scotland’s constitutional question take part in separate dialogues with two eminent Scottish historians and writers.
On Monday 11 August, Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond is in conversation with Sir Tom Devine, who retires as Professor of History at the University of Edinburgh this month and is the author of books including The Scottish Nation and Scotland’s Empire. Examining Scotland’s past, present and future the pair will discuss Scotland’s long journey towards the independence referendum and what might happen after September.
On Friday 15 August, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown talks to Alistair Moffat, the award-winning writer, journalist and festival director who is the author of books including Bannockburn and the Faded Map: Lost Kingdoms of Scotland. Looking at the context and history of the Union, Brown will set out the ideas contained in his new book My Scotland, Our Britain: A Future Worth Sharing and discuss them with Alistair Moffat and the audience.
Nick Barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said “The two events announced today offer our audience an exciting opportunity to get to the very heart of the independence debate. Two of Scotland’s leading historians and writers are joined by politicians who are deeply committed to contrasting visions of Scotland’s future. Their dialogues will examine Scotland’s constitutional question, and the nation’s future relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom, from an informed, historical perspective.”
Alex Salmond with Sir Tom Devine, Monday 11 August 11.30am. Gordon Brown with Alistair Moffat, Friday 15 August 4.30pm. Tickets are now on sale for both events and can be purchased from www.edbookfest.co.uk, by phone on 0845 373 5888 or in person from the Box Office at The Hub, Castlehill (open Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 5.00pm). The Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from Saturday 9 August to Monday 25 August in Charlotte Square Gardens in the heart of the city.
Under the headline ‘Let’s Talk’ the Edinburgh International Book Festival welcomes over 900 internationally-renowned writers and thinkers from 47 countries around the world to Charlotte Square Gardens. Will Self, Martin Amis, Sarah Waters, Rowan Williams and Alan Warner all launch brand new books; Julia Donaldson, Malorie Blackman, Michael Rosen, Germaine Greer, Bonnie Greer, Graham Swift, Margaret Drabble, Richard Dawkins and Max Hastings all make welcome returns and Lydia Davis makes her first visit to the UK since winning the Man Booker International Prize. Full details of all the events in the 2014 programme can be found at www.edbookfest.co.uk.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
