News Archive

‘We Need New Stories’ resonates with audiences at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

‘We Need New Stories’ resonates with audiences at the Edinburgh International Book Festival
Mon 26 August 2019

With a debut Palestinian author topping the bestselling books list, and eight of the top ten bestselling books having been written by women, the Book Festival’s most diverse public programme comes to a close today after 17 days of extraordinary debate, discussion and public engagement with authors and audiences from around the world and across the political and cultural spectrum…

“If that person can be the President of the United States then anything can happen” says Salman Rushdie

“If that person can be the President of the United States then anything can happen” says Salman Rushdie
Mon 26 August 2019

In a sold out event at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Salman Rushdie talked about his latest novel Quichotte, a modern retelling of Don Quixote set in the USA…

“Somehow the idea of leadership has become fairytales,” says Rory Stewart

“Somehow the idea of leadership has become fairytales,” says Rory Stewart
Mon 26 August 2019

“We’re going to have a no deal Brexit, we’re going to launch into a new world because there is still this sort of craving, for a sort of heroic vision that has so little to do with the business of government” said the Conservative politician at the Book Festival today…

Gordon Brown: “The tragedy of Scotland at the moment is that there are two extreme positions, and we’re trapped between them”

Gordon Brown: “The tragedy of Scotland at the moment is that there are two extreme positions, and we’re trapped between them”
Mon 26 August 2019

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke about nationalism, Brexit, and Scottish independence with writer Alastair Moffat at the Book Festival today…

Kerry Hudson: “The erosion of libraries is warfare against poor communities”

Kerry Hudson: “The erosion of libraries is warfare against poor communities”
Mon 26 August 2019

The author of Lowborn spoke alongside fellow writer Sarah Smarsh at the Book Festival yesterday…

“Art saves lives,” says Lemn Sissay

“Art saves lives,” says Lemn Sissay
Mon 26 August 2019

“Family is a set of disputed memories between one group of people over a lifetime. I sort of realised that at eighteen I had nobody to dispute the memory of me", the poet said at the Book Festival on Saturday night…

Pete Etchells on the psychological benefits of video games

Pete Etchells on the psychological benefits of video games
Sun 25 August 2019

Psychology lecturer and video games researcher Pete Etchells spoke about his exciting first book, Lost in a Good Game, at the Book Festival in a conversation that covered the realities of gaming addiction. “It’s not necessarily the case that gaming addiction – if it exists – looks the same as something like drug addiction or gambling addiction,” he said. “We don’t know enough about what gaming addiction looks like to actually make a formal diagnosis.”…

Inequality in pay is an “issue of justice” that we should all be looking at, says Carrie Gracie.

Inequality in pay is an “issue of justice” that we should all be looking at, says Carrie Gracie.
Sat 24 August 2019

“It turns into a situation where the cover up is worse than the crime," the Scottish journalist said in reference to her recent battle with the BBC for equal pay…

Matt Haig calls for new language around mental health

Matt Haig calls for new language around mental health
Sat 24 August 2019

Best-selling author Matt Haig proposed that new language is needed to better define the difference between ‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’…

 Turkish writer Elif Shafak: “Populism is a fake answer to real problems”

Turkish writer Elif Shafak: “Populism is a fake answer to real problems”
Fri 23 August 2019

“Now we know that no countries are immune to toxic populism or toxic nationalism, in fact we’re all in the same boat together,” said the author and human rights activist in an emotional discussion about the rise of populism, nationalism and identity politics…

“I don’t think it is healthy in 21st century Scotland to allow the unregulated concentration of power,” says Andrew Thin

“I don’t think it is healthy in 21st century Scotland to allow the unregulated concentration of power,” says Andrew Thin
Fri 23 August 2019

A debate entitled 'Who Owns Scotland's Land?' at the Book Festival today involved fascinating discussions around land reform and power imbalances…

“I cannot think of a thing that I hold in more contempt than the tabloid presses of this country,” says Max Porter

“I cannot think of a thing that I hold in more contempt than the tabloid presses of this country,” says Max Porter
Fri 23 August 2019

“I cannot think of a thing that I hold in more contempt than the tabloid presses of this country,” said Max Porter at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. He spoke with Festival Director Nick Barley about his 2019 Booker Prize-longlisted novel Lanny…

Rugby star and MND campaigner Doddie Weir receives a standing ovation at the Book Festival

Rugby star and MND campaigner Doddie Weir receives a standing ovation at the Book Festival
Thu 22 August 2019

The Scottish international was speaking with his co-writer Stewart Weir and broadcaster Ian Robertson about new book My Name’5 Doddie last night…

Edinburgh International Book Festival wins a Euan’s Guide Accessibility Award for the fourth year running

Edinburgh International Book Festival wins a Euan’s Guide Accessibility Award for the fourth year running
Wed 21 August 2019

Disabled Access Charity Euan’s Guide announces the winners of the 2019 Accessible Edinburgh Festivals Awards, where venues and festival organisers are rewarded for their commitment to taking steps toward inclusivity. This year’s winners include the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Bedlam Theatre and Festival Theatre…

“If Kashmir is occupied by an army, right now India is occupied by a mob,” says Arundhati Roy

“If Kashmir is occupied by an army, right now India is occupied by a mob,” says Arundhati Roy
Tue 20 August 2019

The God of Small Things author spoke with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Book Festival last night…

“I think racists now have just gotten a lot more sophisticated,” says Benjamin Zephaniah.

“I think racists now have just gotten a lot more sophisticated,” says Benjamin Zephaniah.
Mon 19 August 2019

“When I say they’ve got more sophisticated now – racists – it’s that they’re wearing suits and ties. They’re in positions of power. When I see Nigel Farage... I look at the people behind him. Look at his security, those are the National Front guys I was fighting in the seventies and eighties.” The versatile poet, playwright and author Benjamin Zephaniah discussed his new autobiography The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah at an event chaired by presenter Gemma Cairney at the Edinburgh International Book…

Tales of love and war win the 2019 James Tait Black Prizes

Tales of love and war win the 2019 James Tait Black Prizes
Sun 18 August 2019

A biography of a distinguished war correspondent and a novel about personal relationships amid political turmoil have won the centenary awards of Britain’s oldest literary prizes…

“We’re fat, you can’t silence it,” says Sofie Hagen

“We’re fat, you can’t silence it,” says Sofie Hagen
Sun 18 August 2019

The stand-up comedian discussed her new book Happy Fat at the Book Festival last night…

“We expect the people who deal with the consequences of the oppression to dismantle the oppression,” says Gina Martin

“We expect the people who deal with the consequences of the oppression to dismantle the oppression,” says Gina Martin
Sat 17 August 2019

The feminist activist was talking about her new book Be The Change, an activism handbook inspired by her successful campaign to criminalise “upskirting”. “This book is what I would have wanted at the beginning of the campaign,” she said…

“If you’re an uber driver, you have more protection” than fashion models,  says Eunice Olumide

“If you’re an uber driver, you have more protection” than fashion models, says Eunice Olumide
Sat 17 August 2019

Supermodel and fashion sustainability spokeswoman Eunice Olumide appeared at the Book Festival to discuss her new book, the issues she’s faced with racism in the fashion industry and how we should all try to slow down ‘fast fashion’…

“We are governed by people who believe that the threat of having to live on the streets is a useful threat,” according to Danny Dorling

“We are governed by people who believe that the threat of having to live on the streets is a useful threat,” according to Danny Dorling
Sat 17 August 2019

Dorling spoke as part of a panel discussion on homelessness led by Val McDermid and with fellow writers Geetha Marcus and Joelle Taylor at the Book Festival on Thursday…

The “flexing of English nationalist muscles” will damage the UK says Diarmuid Ferriter

The “flexing of English nationalist muscles” will damage the UK says Diarmuid Ferriter
Sat 17 August 2019

Acclaimed historian Diarmuid Ferriter and long standing Northern Irish journalist Malachi O’Doherty discussed the backstop and the state of Anglo-Irish relations as the UK moves closer to Brexit at the Book Festival on Thursday…

Branko Milanovic: “The state, when it wants to use its power, tends to be stronger than any company”

Branko Milanovic: “The state, when it wants to use its power, tends to be stronger than any company”
Thu 15 August 2019

The economist was discussing his latest book, Capitalism, Alone, with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown…

“You can conceal truth but you can’t conceal it forever,” says Serhii Plokhy

“You can conceal truth but you can’t conceal it forever,” says Serhii Plokhy
Thu 15 August 2019

The Baillie Gifford Prize-winning author of Chernobyl spoke about the nuclear disaster and the way information was controlled around it at the Book Festival last night…

Ruth Davidson: “The only way to avoid No Deal is to vote for a deal”

Ruth Davidson: “The only way to avoid No Deal is to vote for a deal”
Wed 14 August 2019

The Scottish Conservatives leader spoke about her new book Yes She Can with former Olympic athlete Katherine Grainger yesterday at the Edinburgh International Book Festival…

Mansplaining is “rife in Christianity”, says Richard Holloway

Mansplaining is “rife in Christianity”, says Richard Holloway
Wed 14 August 2019

“I’m not sure I do accept God, or how God has been traditionally defined or understood. That’s one prong of my dilemma.”…

Naomi Wolf : “It is incontrovertible that men who loved men were persecuted by the British state”

Naomi Wolf : “It is incontrovertible that men who loved men were persecuted by the British state”
Wed 14 August 2019

"What’s really important is that fifty five men were executed for sodomy offenses in Britain before 1835. That is uncontestedly true", said the writer while appearing at the Book Festival yesterday…

China Dream is an act of revenge, says Ma Jian

China Dream is an act of revenge, says Ma Jian
Wed 14 August 2019

“If you cannot live in freedom, love is impossible,” said exiled writer Ma Jian at the Edinburgh International Book Festival yesterday, while discussing his book China Dream with poet André Naffis-Sahely, assisted by his longtime translator Flora Drew…

“Suffering and revolution is a collective experience. If I rebel, then we exist,” Palestinian writer Nayrouz Qarmout

“Suffering and revolution is a collective experience. If I rebel, then we exist,” Palestinian writer Nayrouz Qarmout
Tue 13 August 2019

“If I rebel, then we exist,” said Nayrouz Qarmout today at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in conversation with singer-songwriter Karine Polwart, Ali Smith and Guest Selector Val McDermid. Speaking through a translator, the Palestinian writer discussed important notions of identity and displacement at an event exploring the meaning of home for migrants and refugees event…

Tim Winton: "In order for things to get better, things have to get broken”

Tim Winton: "In order for things to get better, things have to get broken”
Sun 11 August 2019

Discussing the environmental and existential challenges facing the world today, the acclaimed Australian author stressed that "we have an obligation to identify hope rather than assume it’s not available."…

The best revenge for oppression is to live life with freedom says Casey Gerald

The best revenge for oppression is to live life with freedom says Casey Gerald
Sun 11 August 2019

Casey Gerald sat down to discuss his new book with his close friend and Black Lives Matter activist DeRay McKesson at the Book Festival yesterday…

“Radicalisation is underpinned by raging inequality, anger and impotence” says Fatima Bhutto

“Radicalisation is underpinned by raging inequality, anger and impotence” says Fatima Bhutto
Sun 11 August 2019

“The underpinnings of radicalisation are not what we’ve been told over the past 20 years”, said Fatima Bhutto on the opening day of Edinburgh International Book Festival. She argued that religious beliefs are not, in fact, the driving force behind violent terrorism, but instead these are based in feelings of “raging inequality, anger, impotence and humiliation”…