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As with most of the festivals, the Book Festival can be a scary prospect at first glance. Here. we map out a plan which should make the minefield a little easier to negotiate. All events are based in Charlotte Square Gardens. The box office number is 0845 373 5888 and the website is www.edbookfest.co.uk

Jacqueline Wilson Daydreams Join the superstar author as she explains how she uses stories from her own childhood as inspiration for her popular books including the cheeky Tracy Beaker. l()am. £3.50. William Dalrymple Start the Festival in style with one of Scotland's most critically acclaimed authors as he discusses the events surrounding the seige of Delhi. This event kicks off a whole season ol'events focusing on India in this. its 60th year of independence and the l5()th anniversary of the Mutiny. [1.30am [7(1‘5).

Charlie 8i Lola Join the ever popular characters for a wonderful party with games. activities and stories about Charlie. his little sister Lola and the rest of the gang. 2pm. 4.30pm. £3.50.

Philip Gourevitch & Will Self Gourevitch and Self have holed themselves up on the Isle of Jura as part of the anists retreat programme. Hear all about their experience and tribute to George Orwell who wrote I984 on the same island. 6.30pm. [8(1'6).

Edmund White See the launch of White's new novel. a touching portrait of the last few days oftragic TB victim Stephen Crane. 8.30pm. [8(1‘6).

Charlie & Lola Play ‘l will never not ever give up my seat' musical chairs and make a collage while listening to the adventures of Charlie. Lola and all of their friends. I ()am. [3.50.

Jacqueline van Maarsen Listen to the remarkable story of the acclaimed author who escaped the same fate as Anne Frank and who also discusses racial discrimination. Norm. £ 7 (£5).

Sarlraz Manzoor See caption. 2.30pm. £7 ([5).

Ba] Persaud Be prepared for some uncomfortable moments as the well-known psychiatrist leaves nothing uncovered in his thrilling cross examination of a surprise guest. 3pm. f 7 (£5).

Dayo Forster a Dinaw Mengestu No compelling African debuts in the Festival‘s groundbreaking Writers of the World Series. Listen to the autobiographical tales of these two outstanding authors who bring Gambia and Ethiopia. respectively. to life. 6pm. £5 ([3). Andrew O’Hagan Join the award- winning Scottish novelist as he discusses his latest book Be Near Me. the tale of a troubled priest. 8.30pm. [8(1‘6).

Norman Davies An exciting new perspective on our recent European history. examining how Western European thinking underestimates the importance of the Eastern European experience. I lam. f 7 (£5).

Graham Swift The Booker—winner‘s latest novel looks at a family and their

Sarlraz Manzoor

hopes. dreams and fears on a night before the millennium. A moving exploration of the mystery of happiness. 11.30am. f 7 ([5).

Terry Eagleton Get a witty. meaningful and well researched answer to the age-old question. ‘What is the meaning of life'." with one of the most important cultural critics of our time. 3pm, £7 (£5).

Laura Hird in a change from her usual gritty comedy. Laura Hird expresses her grief about losing her mother in this touching memoir which includes letters documenting a turbulent relationship between mother and daughter. 7pm. £8 (£6).

The Stem Cell Challenge ls harvesting brain cells ethical? What if it could cure previously incurable diseases? Hear both sides of the story from philosopher Brenda Almond and US thinker and academic John Evans. 7.30pm. £8 ([6).

Quintin Jardine The latest instalment in Jardine‘s DC Bob Skinner novels pits him against a grieving millionaire father. who may not be all he seems. and a devious killer. 8pm. £8 (£6).

Tuesday 14

Justin Cartwright Booker-shortlisted and winner of the Hawthomden Cartwright's latest novel tells the tale of Hitler‘s would be assassins and their impact through the generations. 10.15am. f 7 ( £5 ).

Margaret Atwood A rare chance to see one of the world‘s greatest writers. and winner of the Edinburgh Book Festival Enlightenment Award. in the flesh. 11.30am. £7(£5).

Hermione Lee One of Britain's most distinguished biographers brings her perception and insight to bear on the great

18 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 9—16 Aug 2007

American novelist. Edith Wharton. Nomi. £ 7 (£5 ).

Doris Lessing Expect themes including gender. politics and literature to be dealt with in this event with the remarkable writer. Her latest novel sees a mythical. all female. society challenging the idea of gender and power. What will happen after the first ever boy is bom'.’ 3pm. I 7 ( [5). Val McDermid 8: Denise Mina More crime writing with this double bill of top Scottish authors. providing a psychological insight into the ever-popular genre. 6.30pm. £8 ([6).

Thomas Legendre 1. Alan Pauls Powerful voices from North and South America. telling tales of men searching for new lives. Pauls has taken the Spanish- speaking world by storm with his novel The Past which is being made into a feature film by Hector Babeno. stam’ng Gael Garcia Bemal. 7.30pm. £5 ([3).

Wednesday 15

Alan Spence Director of Aberdeen's Word Festival talks about his latest work which documents the adventure of an Aberdonian who helped found a modem Japan. llam. £7(£5).

Ruth Randell Meet a crime writer at her best in conversation with Ian Rankin. Her latest murder mystery is as captivating as ever. [1.30am £7(£5).

Where the Wild Things Are Dress up as a scary monster and join Max in his adventures to beat the wild things then make your own gnashing. slashing creature with artist Julie Dawson. 2pm. £3.50. Malina Warner Find out why your imagination runs wild with an insight into why we love fairy tales. monster stories and how spirits are portrayed in the 21st century. Warner explains the deep power of

A memoir full of touching perceptions of a Pakistani Muslim arriving in Britain aged three who finds he doesn’t quite belong. Until, that is, he discovers music. Greetings From

Bury Park: Race Religions and Rock'n’Roll charts a changing multicultural Britain and the power of music to unite. I 12 Aug, 2.30pm, £7 (£5).

the fairy story. 3.30pm. [7(1'5).

Charles Spencer The brother of Diana. Princess of Wales. paints his own historical picture of the colourful character Prince Rupert of the Rhine who fought for King Charles 1. 6.30pm. [8(1'6).

Lin Anderson a Alanna Knight Settle back and enjoy these leading ladies of the Scottish crime scene. 7pm. [8 ([6).

Thursday 16

Kate Atkinson The Whitbread and Saltire award-winning author discusses her latest work which celebrates Edinburgh at Festival time. [1.30am [7(1‘5).

Clive James The well known and much- loved perfomier’s latest book. Cultural Amnesia. is a personal tour of the seminal figures of 20th century culture. A highlight. 3pm. £7 ([5).

Alan Grant & Cam Kennedy Come and hear what motivated these graphic novelists to turn their pens to adapting RL Stephenson's Kidnapped. 5pm, £3.50. Steven Hall 1. Jenny firmer Hall's debut The Raw Shark Texts is a roller- coaster ride through language. identity. memory and laws while Turner's The Brainstann follows a joumalist who loses her memory and has to get used to life in London again. 6pm. £5 ([3).

Jews and Arabs in the Middle East See foreign correspondents David Pratt and Adam LeBor on their home turf discussing the complexities of politics in lsrael and Palestine. 7.30pm. £8 (£6).

Ballads of the Book An all-star line-up celebrating one of the year's most groundbreaking creative projects. in which leading Scottish writers wrote lyrics for leading musicians. Featuring Ali Smith. AL Kennedy. Roddy Woomble and Emma Pollock among many others. 8pm. £8 (£6).