Max Hastings speaks with Magnus Linklater at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

In 1975, military historian Max Hastings boarded a helicopter out of Saigon during the Final Evacuation. He chronicled the controversial conflict in his bestselling Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, a compelling account foregrounding the personal stories of those affected and laying bare the horror of a war that still weighs heavy on the American conscience. In this event filmed live at the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival, Hastings shares his eyewitness testimony with Magnus Linklater.

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

Lisa Taddeo: Violently in Love Lisa Taddeo: Violently in Love In her bestselling non-fiction book Three Women, Lisa Taddeo gave an account of the defining sexual relationships in three real women’s lives. Now the American author turns her hand to fiction, and her debut novel Animal opens with a bang – literally… Scottish BAME Writers Network: Afrofuturism - Present Realities, Possible Futures Scottish BAME Writers Network: Afrofuturism - Present Realities, Possible Futures How can Afrofuturism help the African diaspora in Scotland engender a better future for today? Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic that combines science-fiction, history and fantasy to reimagine the history of the African diaspora, while invoking hopeful… Nadine Aisha Jassat & Tsitsi Dangarembga: Outriders Africa Following in their Footsteps Nadine Aisha Jassat & Tsitsi Dangarembga: Outriders Africa Following in their Footsteps As part of the Book Festival's Outriders programme exploring the shifting landscapes of contemporary Africa, rising star of Scottish poetry Nadine Aisha Jassat embarked on a poignant journey across the south-east of the continent with Zimbabwe-based… Jack Monroe: On Self-Care and Social Change Jack Monroe: On Self-Care and Social Change To call Jack Monroe a cookbook writer would be to undersell her by several degrees of magnitude. From being a struggling single mother on a microbudget, she has built a career helping those who society has left behind. Fresh from pressuring supermarkets… Éric Vuillard & Mark Polizzotti with Amelia Gentleman Éric Vuillard & Mark Polizzotti with Amelia Gentleman Writer and film-maker Éric Vuillard was catapulted to fame in his native France when he won the Prix Goncourt in 2017 for his novel The Order of the Day, set in Austria in the lead-up to the Second World War. This also began the working relationship… Peter Scott-Morgan: Rewiring Humanity Peter Scott-Morgan: Rewiring Humanity The first sign that something was not right came to scientist Dr Peter Scott-Morgan when he was getting out of the bath – no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't manage to shake the water from his feet. Not long after, he was diagnosed with MND (Motor… James MacMillan at the Edinburgh International Book Festival James MacMillan at the Edinburgh International Book Festival As he reaches the landmark age of 60, internationally renowned composer and conductor James MacMillan reflects on a classical life well lived in A Scots Song. Ayrshire-born MacMillan's recent achievements have included the formation of The Cumnock Tryst… Alasdair Gray (2010 event) Alasdair Gray (2010 event) With the help of three actors, Lanark author Alasdair Gray presents an irreverent dramatised reading… Ruth Davidson talks to Katherine Grainger at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Ruth Davidson talks to Katherine Grainger at the Edinburgh International Book Festival They say you should write about what you know – advice Ruth Davidson followed when she embarked on Yes She Can, a treatise on the power of inspirational women. When appointed in 2011, she was the youngest leader of a major UK political party and one of… Rodge Glass, Jen Hadfield and Eleanor Thom (2010 event) Rodge Glass, Jen Hadfield and Eleanor Thom (2010 event) Three leading authors, who are all part of the writing project Elsewhere commissioned by the Book Festival, discuss what it felt like to be asked to take part…