Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 Highlights 13–16 August

James Naughtie: When Knowledge Could Be Deadly James Naughtie has witnessed much political skulduggery as a special correspondent for BBC News, and he’s put this knowledge to use in his gripping spy thriller series. Today, Naughtie introduces The Spy Across the Water: the third outing for the Flemyng… Mary Robinson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival While the realities of climate change are not always visible, the realisation that our grandchildren will live in troubled times can catalyse action. After becoming a grandmother, former Irish president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary… Tom Lanoye & James Yorkston (2016 Event) Two doppelgänger Belgian exiles are on the run in Tom Lanoye’s latest novel, Fortunate Slaves. When they finally meet they realise that each could hold the solution to the other's problems. James Yorkston is familiar as one of Scotland’s finest… Yanis Varoufakis with Shami Chakrabarti (2018 Event) Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has written several influential books and has co-founded ‘DiEM25’, a pan-European progressive movement which will be competing in next year’s European parliament elections. Adults in the Room was described as… Robin Robertson & Tim Robertson: Spirits of Scotland Haunting, elemental and deeply charged, Robin Robertson’s writing evokes the mythology of landscapes and people, whether in Scotland or elsewhere. Most of his work takes the form of shorter poems and a new book, Grimoire, brings together some of Robertson’… Nile Rodgers (2012) He may be best known for the disco hit Le Freak but Nile Rodgers’ influence on pop music has been so very much greater than that… Ben Okri at the Edinburgh International Book Festival ‘Storytellers sometimes see things before they have been experienced.’ This, from Ben Okri’s new chillingly dystopic novel The Freedom Artist, is a stark warning to readers. His world of truths eroded, of people shambling blindly towards calamity, is… Caleb Femi: Poet of the People 'Caleb Femi is a gift to us all from the storytelling gods,' says fellow writer Max Porter. Femi’s exuberant words and talent saw him named as the first Young People’s Laureate for London in 2016, following his 2015 win at the Roundhouse Poetry Slam. Now… Max Porter: Pen Portraits His first two short novels, Grief is the Thing with Feathers and Lanny, underline Max Porter’s ability to paint vivid mental pictures with words. Now Porter has turned his attention to the last days of a famous British painter. The Death of Francis Bacon –… UNBOUND: The Golden Hour A hellacious hybrid of rakish words and eclectic music: Ryan Van Winkle, Joe Dunthorne, Kelly Link and roofing poet William Leftford…