Alan Johnson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

If today’s politicians make you miserable, Alan Johnson may be the antidote. The former Labour Home Secretary has written a series of witty memoirs, and he’s regularly regaled Book Festival audiences with colourful tales of life beyond Westminster. In My Life is another hit, this time focusing on Johnson’s love of music – from Dylan to Donegan, Bowie to the Beatles. Hear how their tunes have shaped him in this event hosted by writer Daniel Gray and filmed live at the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Book Festival News

Celebrating the 2024 Book Festival Celebrating the 2024 Book Festival
Monday 26 August

Enjoying this event? You can help us produce more like it.

Donate

Share

Watch more

Working with Words: Inside the New York Times Crossword Working with Words: Inside the New York Times Crossword ‘You can’t think of your troubles while solving a crossword.’ Margaret Farrar, Founding Crossword Editor, the New York Times The world’s first crossword puzzle was published in 1913. By 1924, Simon & Schuster had capitalised on the craze, publishing the… Jeffrey Boakye, Sinéad Gleeson & Bob Stanley: The Many Voices of Music Jeffrey Boakye, Sinéad Gleeson & Bob Stanley: The Many Voices of Music Three authors come together in an event for music lovers, chaired by Arusa Qureshi. Jeffrey Boakye takes us through key moments in Black history through 28 of its most powerful songs in Musical Truth. Sinéad Gleeson discusses This Woman’s Work, a… Raven Leilani & Patricia Lockwood: Sharp, Fragmentary Fiction Raven Leilani & Patricia Lockwood: Sharp, Fragmentary Fiction Fans of cutting-edge fiction will not want to miss this brilliant meeting of minds. Both Patricia Lockwood and Raven Leilani have written sizzling debut novels that are being celebrated by critics, loved by readers and gaining recognition from major… Leone Ross: All the Flavours of Love Leone Ross: All the Flavours of Love On the imagined Caribbean archipelago of Popisho, slavery has never existed and the only attempt at colonisation has been successfully resisted by the inhabitants. That’s the fantastical setting for Leone Ross’s immersive and rambunctious novel This One… Leïla Slimani: Sense of Self Leïla Slimani: Sense of Self Leïla Slimani’s daring and profound thriller Lullaby was an international bestseller, winning her France's most prestigious literary prize: the Prix Goncourt. She joins the Book Festival this August to discuss two vibrant new works: The Scent of Flowers… Lola Olufemi & Minna Salami: Critical Reflections on Feminism Lola Olufemi & Minna Salami: Critical Reflections on Feminism Since 2010, the award-winning blog MsAfropolitan has connected feminism with critical reflections on contemporary culture from an Africa-centred perspective. Its founder is Nigerian-Finnish writer and lecturer Minna Salami, a powerhouse of feminist… Alan Cumming (2016 Event) Alan Cumming (2016 Event) Dividing his time between New York and Hollywood, one of our best-kent Scottish actors has found himself at the centre of an impressive collection of scenes, scrapes and scraps in the world of showbiz. Alan Cumming has now gathered some of his best… Omid Djalili (2014 event) Omid Djalili (2014 event) Acclaimed comedian and actor Omid Djalili has produced a joyously funny memoir about growing up and finding fame as a young Iranian in London. He beautifully captures his unique childhood in his parents’ guesthouse, describing meetings with an array… Tim Winton talks to John Williams at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Tim Winton talks to John Williams at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Only dreamers or the desperate would cross the vast saltland deserts of Western Australia. So which is Jaxie Clacton, the lonely boy at the heart of Tim Winton’s brutal, tender novel The Shepherd’s Hut? It’s a masterful work by one of the world’s greatest… Gideon Rachman, Andrew Wilson & Lea Ypi: Follow the Leader Gideon Rachman, Andrew Wilson & Lea Ypi: Follow the Leader Putin, Trump, Erdogan. Why are authoritarian leaders on the rise? Our panel explores their impact on the lives of citizens. Prize-winning journalist Gideon Rachman surveys leadership cults across the globe in The Age of the Strongman; Eastern Europe…