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Book now The Edinburgh International Book Festival programme packs a punch
F unnyman David Walliams, interviewer Jeremy Paxman and former Chancellor Alistair Darling are just some of the well known names set to headline this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival. The capital’s annual literary bonanza will welcome literati from across the spectrum for a jam- packed programme of events.
Comedian, channel swimmer and recent reality TV judge David Walliams, who has recently added children’s author to his list of talents, waxes lyrical about his new series of books, Gangsta Granny; fiery Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman appears to talk about his written history of the British Empire, an accompaniment to his TV series, Empire.
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The world of politics is well represented with Darling the leader of British Liberal D e m o c r a t party Paddy former
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joining ed established Ashdown ns authors in a series of discussions e on Britain Today. Meanwhile n ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown f will deliver the National Library of e Scotland’s Donald Dewar Lecture and First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond will discuss his life beyond politics and literary tastes with Booker Prize-winning author Ian McEwan.
festival will In the world of fiction, the festival will provide a launchpad for Booker Prize winner James Kelman’s latest novel Mo Said She was Quirky, as well as new work from McEwan, Will Self and Pat Barker. A series of debates will encourage festival goers to re-think the world around them, with subjects such as Scottish independence, market regulation, and the way food is viewed all up for discussion. Kids can enjoy a programme of lighter topics from Doctor Who to aliens and zombies, and children’s author Jacqueline Wilson will be on hand to give young audiences a
sneak-peek of her s r r e - i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o of the classic Five C Children and It. N New writing is we well represented thr throughout the pro programme, while fan fans of fantastically ecle eclectic late night liter literary events should look look no further than
the free Unbound programme. With over 800 authors, representing 45 countries, speaking at over 750 events this year, festival director Nick Barley said of the line-up: ‘We are delighted to showcase some of the best Scottish writing, as well as welcoming some extraordinary literary talent from around the world to help us rethink aspects of society that affect our everyday lives.’
The Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from Sat 11–Mon 27 Aug, edbookfest.co.uk
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shades, this is hardly a re-reading of Hamlet.’ OBSERVER ‘The film’s second half offers more than enough bungee- swinging through Manhattan’s concrete canyons, immaculately rendered in vertiginous, silky- smooth 3D, to satisfy thrill- seekers of either sex.’ TELEGRAPH
WHAT THEY SAID: ‘It exists in a vacuum of familiarity and although Garfield’s twitchy, spiky playing of Peter Parker brings new ‘Graced with great performances from Garfield and Stone, this is a rare comic-book flick that is better at examining relationships than superheroism.’ EMPIRE