Elena Pala, John Retallack & Sandro Veronesi: The World of the Hummingbird

Sandro Veronesi’s international bestselling novel The Hummingbird is transformed into an exclusive, experimental and immersive event for the Book Festival by the team who adapted it for BBC Radio 3. Experience the impressionistic, dreamlike life of ‘the hummingbird’ – Marco Carrera – through voices, soundscape, music and authentic textures of Italy. Stay on for a discussion with translator Elena Pala and playwright John Retallack.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Sandro Veronesi is unable to attend in person. The event opens with a pre-recorded introduction by Veronesi. As an installation piece to be experienced in person, this event will not be livestreamed.

Book Festival News

Communities Programme participants celebrate success of 2024 Communities Programme participants celebrate success of 2024
Friday 13 December

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

Donate

Share

Watch more

Richard Holloway with Alison Watt: This One’s From the Heart Richard Holloway with Alison Watt: This One’s From the Heart Book Festival regulars need no introduction to Richard Holloway: he has spoken at the Festival every August for the past 23 years. He joins us this time to discuss The Heart of Things – a collection of his favourite poems and quotations, knitted together… Joshua Wong: Hong Kong’s Champion for Democracy Joshua Wong: Hong Kong’s Champion for Democracy ‘Hong Kongers will never surrender, because we have nowhere else to turn.’ At age 14, Joshua Wong co-founded the student activist group Scholarism, protesting the enforcement of Chinese National Education in Hong Kong. He went on to become a very public… Alan Rusbridger talks to David McCraw at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Alan Rusbridger talks to David McCraw at the Edinburgh International Book Festival When Alan Rusbridger stepped down as Guardian editor in 2015 he left one of the world’s most trusted news organisations. Rusbridger’s 20-year tenure oversaw international expansion and investigative triumphs, such as the phone hacking scandal. But it also… Cathy Newman at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Cathy Newman at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Bloody Brilliant Women is Channel 4 News anchor Cathy Newman’s paean to those women who’ve shaped modern Britain, with the likes of Emmeline Pankhurst sharing pages with heroes like Beatrice Shilling, whose engineering prowess helped win the Battle of… Sarah Smith: Hear No Evil Sarah Smith: Hear No Evil One of three major performances this year looking at today’s Scotland through the lens of its past, present and future, Hear No Evil is based on the debut novel by Sarah Smith. This production uses a fusion of sign language, image and performance to tell… George Monbiot - pt3 George Monbiot - pt3 Passionate campaigner for environmental and social change, George Monbiot gives us practical, powerful solutions on a global scale of how to prevent further destruction of our planet through climate change in this 2007 event. The video of this event is… Nadifa Mohamed: For Whom is Justice Served? Nadifa Mohamed: For Whom is Justice Served? Can the truth save those who have been condemned for something other than a crime? Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2021, The Fortune Men takes us to Cardiff ’s multicultural Tiger Bay in 1952, where Mahmood Mattan is accused of murder. He feels secure… Carol Ann Duffy: ‘You Danced On the Road, Blowing Kisses’ Carol Ann Duffy: ‘You Danced On the Road, Blowing Kisses’ ‘Your vacant room / is a still-life framed by the unclosed door; / read by sunlight, an open book on the floor.’ This plaintive cry will be familiar to many empty nesters who have seen a child grow up and leave home. Written by Carol Ann Duffy, it opens a… Caleb Femi: Poet of the People 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… Anne Enright: Flying the Nest  Anne Enright: Flying the Nest  Anne Enright, one of Ireland’s most celebrated authors, returns to discuss her new novel, The Wren, The Wren. The possibility of freedom and the pain of separation affect mother and daughter differently when Carmel watches Nell go out into the world. Join…