FESTIVAL BOOKS | Day Planner
As the Edinburgh International Book Festival opens its doors, books editor Kirsty Logan picks the literary legends and top talks you can’t afford to miss
THURSDAY 15 Jonathan Coe ‘John le Carré meets Evelyn Waugh’, says Coe of his new comic novel Expo 58. 11.30am, £10 (£8). Tracy Chevalier Her Vermeer-inspired novel Girl with a Pearl Earring sold four million copies; her new novel is The Last Runaway, set in the Ohio cornfields. 3pm, £10 (£8). Pedro Lenz & Andrej Longo Already a prizewinner, Naw Much of a Talker is the result of Swiss author Lenz’s six- month residency in Glasgow. 3.30pm, £7 (£5). Iain Macwhirter Want to know why Scotland is in a state of constitutional confusion? MacWhirter’s book Road to Referendum, also produced as a documentary, explains all. 5pm, £10 (£8). Tim Burgess & Ian Rankin The Charlatans frontman discusses his career, influences and – of course – haircut with crime author Ian Rankin. 9.30pm, £10 (£8).
FRIDAY 16
Rebus Tours Part of the Fringe, this 2-hour walking tour explores the world of D.I. John Rebus, star of Ian Rankin’s crime novels. Departing from The Royal Oak pub, noon each day, £10 (£9). William McIlvanney McIlvanney fans have long been frustrated that his Laidlaw crime novels are out of print – happily, this event celebrates their reissue by Canongate. 3pm, £10 (£8). Jackie Kay Appearing with her son, filmmaker Matthew Kay, she discusses her new poems about Glasgow asylum seekers. 4.30pm, £10 (£8). Philippe Claudel & Peter Terrin Dark and poetic, French novelist Claudel’s new book The Investigation explores a Kafkaesque world. 6.45pm, £10 (£8). Michael Pedersen & Luke Wright Two of Britain’s most exciting young poet-performers discuss their new books. 8.30pm, £7 (£5). SATURDAY 17
Ali Smith The ever-engaging novelist presents two new books: Artful, a sort-of essay collection, and Shire, a sort-of memoir. Noon, £10 (£8). Judging a Book by its Cover Why do you pick a particular book off the shelf? Illustrators and publishers explain the principles of cover design. 5pm, £7 (£5). Damian Barr Barr’s darkly amusing memoir, Maggie and me, describes growing up in Scotland during 1980s Thatcherism. 7pm, £10 (£8). Melvin Burgess & Jeremy Dyson If you enjoy the quirky side of terror, these horror superstars are sure to satisfy. 8.30pm, £10 (£8).
SUNDAY 18
Simon Garfield In On the Map: Why the World Looks the Way it Does, Garfield argues that we’re living through the biggest mapping revolution since the 15th century. 10.30am, £10 (£8). Shani Boianjiu & Jérôme Ferrari Two rising stars present their fact-based novels set during recent conflicts. 3.30pm, £7 (£5). Richard Holloway The former Bishop of Edinburgh reflects on society, faith and storytelling. 4.30pm, £10 (£8). Tracey Thorn In Bedsit Disco Queen, the former Everything But the Girl frontwoman chronicles her journey in the music industry. 8pm, £10 (£8). 36 THE LIST FESTIVAL 15–26 Aug 2013
LAURIE PENNY The New Statesman journalist and author discusses her ebook Discordia: Six Nights in Crisis Athens, an account of her journey to Greece in July 2012. It was there that she spoke to a variety of people – including anarchists, striking workers and ordinary people caught up in the riots – about the impact of the Euro crisis. Described as ‘part-polemic, part-travelogue’ Discordia considers the many factors that led to the protests which gripped Greece’s capital in 2011 and 2012. Those familiar with Penny’s politically-charged writing (she was nominated for the Orwell Prize in 2010) will know to expect intelligent and passionate discussion at this Book Festival event. ■ Tue 20 Aug, 4pm, £10 (£8).
Out There at Jura Unbound Scottish literary magazine Gutter hosts a night of queerness for Out There, a new state-of- the-nation book of LGBT writing planned for 2014. 9pm, free.
MONDAY 19 Liz Lochhead Lochhead appeared at the very first EIBF in 1983, and has only missed one year since. Here she discusses 30 years in Scottish culture. 3pm, £10 (£8). Arne Dahl & Alex Gray Sweden meets Scotland in the world of crime fiction. 6.45pm, £10 (£8). James Kakalios What’s the science of Spider-Man? Physicist Kakalios consults with Hollywood filmmakers to ensure their science works. 7pm, £10 (£8). Christopher Brookmyre Bestselling crime writer Brookmyre’s Flesh Wounds promises deliciously dark humour. 8pm, £10 (£8). Tash Aw & Rawi Hage Carnivalesque urban worlds unfold in these two writers’ new novels. 8.30pm, £10 (£8).
TUESDAY 20 WEDNESDAY 21
Marina Warner Having previously written about the Virgin Mary, Warner now turns her attention to Joan of Arc. 11am, £10 (£8). Fifty Shades of Feminism Kate Mosse, Lisa Appignanesi and Kamila Shamsie discuss 21st century feminism – how far have we really come? 3pm, £10 (£8). Pippa Goldschmidt & Alice Thompson Science and tragedy collide in the dark comedies from these two Scottish writers. 3.30pm, £7 (£5). Vic Galloway Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway reminisces about KT Tunstall, the Beta Band, and many other Fence Collective acts as documented in his book Songs in the Key of Fife. 8.30pm, £10 (£8). Rachel Kushner US writer Kushner is in conversation with Colm Tóibín. 8.30pm, £10 (£8). The Bookshop Band at Jura Unbound A selection of songs inspired by books, themed around EIBF’s 30 year anniversary. 9pm, free.
Courtney Collins & Rosemary Goring Although they hail from opposite sides of the world, these two writers have produced equally exciting literary novels. 10.15am, £10 (£8). Joanne Harris Revisiting the setting of her novel Chocolat, Harris presents her new book Peaches for Monsieur le Curé. 11.30am, £10 (£8). Mark Mills & Jenny Rooney The lives of spies are explored in these writers’ new novels. 3.30pm, £7 (£5). Women’s Representation in the Arts Kate Mosse, Lucy Kerbel and Jonathan Jones debate women’s representation and power across literature, theatre and visual arts. 7pm, £10 (£8). Daniel Rachel Rachel interviewed Jimmy Page, Billy Bragg, Lily Allen and many others for his book on songwriting, Isle of Noises; here he chats to Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble. 8.30pm, £10 (£8). All events are at Charlotte Square Gardens unless otherwise stated, 0845 373 5888.