George Alagiah speaks to Allan Little at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

Join popular BBC broadcaster George Alagiah as he takes off his reporting hat and plunges into a new career as political thriller writer, drawing on his knowledge and experience of working in Africa. The Burning Land sees South Africa torn apart by propaganda and murder as one of the country’s bright young hopes is slain. Two childhood friends reunite in order to fight for the soul of their nation. This event, filmed live at the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival, is chaired by BBC special correspondent Allan Little.

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

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 Highlights 20–23 August Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019 Highlights 20–23 August The Book Festival in full swing for the second week, in which we hear from Sue Perkins, Arundhati Roy, James Acaster and more… Leah Cowan, Julián Fuks & Abbas Nazari: Surviving Hostile Environments Leah Cowan, Julián Fuks & Abbas Nazari: Surviving Hostile Environments Detained, fingerprinted, treated with hostility. These are some of the words used recently by EU citizens seeking entry into the UK. How do Britain’s borders reflect the government’s Hostile Environment policy, and how does its border regime link with… Sam Baker & Carol Birch (2016 Event) Sam Baker & Carol Birch (2016 Event) Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist Carol Birch presents her new book Orphans of the Carnival, which features powerful female characters separated by centuries and continents. Meanwhile, former editor of RED magazine and co-founder of The Pool, Sam… Katie Kitamura: Familiarity and Contempt Katie Kitamura: Familiarity and Contempt Regarded as a master of cool disquiet, a novelist of enchanting imagination and minimalist prose, Katie Kitamura has grown into one of America’s most respected authors. She’s also a favourite with other writers: her new novel Intimacies isn’t published… Raja Shehadeh: To Absent Fathers Raja Shehadeh: To Absent Fathers In 1985, Raja Shehadeh’s father Aziz was murdered in a pre-meditated knife attack. The circumstances of the crime are the subject of his Strangers in the House. Today, through his new memoir, Shehadeh sheds a different light on the father-son relationship… Interview - Joanne Harris (2015) Interview - Joanne Harris (2015) Hugely popular writer Joanne Harris took a moment before her event in Charlotte Square Gardens to talk to us about her new Norse inspired novel, The Gospel of Loki. We also spoke to some audience members to see what they thought about her event. You can… Tom Lanoye & James Yorkston (2016 Event) 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… Leah Broad: Singing Women’s Praises Leah Broad: Singing Women’s Praises Classical music has long been a male-dominated affair. Historical musicologist Leah Broad is determined to redress the balance and in Quartet: How Four Women Changed the Musical World she chronicles the lives and work of 20th century composers, Ethel… Interview - Melissa Benn (2014) Interview - Melissa Benn (2014) Melissa Benn was in Edinburgh to talk about her book What Should We Tell Our Daughters? and took time out for a quick chat before her event at the Book Festival. You can also watch Melissa Benn's full hour-long event, recorded live at the 2014… Abi Morgan: For Love Nor Pity Abi Morgan: For Love Nor Pity One of the UK’s most fearsomely talented screenwriters, Abi Morgan has worked on projects including The Iron Lady and Shame, which garnered both headlines and awards. Today, she reveals her own powerful story of survival. In This is Not a Pity Memoir…