Paul Durcan (2012 event)

'If there were a prize for best reader of one’s own poems, Paul Durcan would probably win it hands down,' proclaimed the Guardian's reviewer of Durcan's latest poetry collection, Praise in Which I Live and Move and Have My Being. The popular Dublin-born writer paid a well overdue visit to the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2012 (his first since 1995) and thrilled audiences with his quirky, jaunty, insightful new poems. This is a live recording of the event.

Download MP3

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

Listen to more

Neil Forsyth (2012 event) Neil Forsyth (2012 event) Broughty Ferry's fictional hero Bob Servant was brought to life by Greg McHugh (aka Gary Tank Commander) in a sell-out performance. Since then… Ian Rankin Ian Rankin Always one of the most popular Book Festival authors and an international bestselling phenomenon to boot, Scottish-born Ian Rankin is interrogated by fellow crime writer Denise Mina in this revealing 2006 Book Festival event… Samantha Power with Allan Little: What One Person Can Do (2020 Event) Samantha Power with Allan Little: What One Person Can Do (2020 Event) The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, former policy advisor to President Obama and Professor of Human Rights talks with Allan Little in our annual Frederick Hood Memorial Lecture, recorded live at the 2020 Book Festival… Tam Dalyell with James Naughtie (2011 event) Tam Dalyell with James Naughtie (2011 event) There can be few backbench politicians who have had as much influence on British politics as Tam Dalyell. Fiercely independent and a thorn in the side of several Prime Ministers, his contributions to politics include his vocal opposition to military… Tom McCarthy (2015 Event) Tom McCarthy (2015 Event) Is Tom McCarthy a J G Ballard for the 21st century? Or is he just bullshitting? McCarthy would probably claim he’s somewhere in between. The Man Booker shortlisted author’s hugely entertaining, densely imaginative novel Satin Island introduces… Mervyn King (2016 Event) Mervyn King (2016 Event) Nearly a decade after the Great Recession of 2007-09, banking may have become one of the world’s less popular professions, but has the financial system itself actually changed much? If not, what corrections to banking and financial practice do we… Shami Chakrabarti with Kate Mosse (2015 Event) Shami Chakrabarti with Kate Mosse (2015 Event) A day after Shami Chakrabarti joined the campaigning organisation Liberty, New York’s Twin Towers were attacked. Ever since, she has fought a passionate campaign for human rights… Tony Juniper (2018 Event) Tony Juniper (2018 Event) It seems as if people have been trying to save the rainforests for a very long time. And while approximately half of their area has been effectively destroyed, it’s not too late to do the right thing by the other 50%. After all, it’s only the… Sue Black with Val McDermid (2018 Event) Sue Black with Val McDermid (2018 Event) Few people are as familiar with death as Professor Sue Black. As a forensic anthropologist she sees it in the form of human remains; at scenes of murder, at burial sites and in her lab. Black’s astonishing book, All That Remains, offers fascinating… Neil Griffiths & Richard Powers (2018 Event) Neil Griffiths & Richard Powers (2018 Event) Considered by many to be one of America’s great literary voices, National Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Richard Powers presents The Overstory, his seductive and beguiling novel of interlocking stories (now also shortlisted for the 201…