Kit de Waal: Scenes from an Unpredictable Childhood

Captioned

Kit de Waal’s influence across contemporary British literature is so broad as to be almost immeasurable. So how is it that one of our titans of the written word grew up with only the Bible to read? De Waal comes to this year’s Festival to chat about a childhood caught between three worlds and her unforgettable new memoir Without Warning & Only Sometimes with Damian Barr.

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

Annabelle Hirsch: Pieces of a Woman Annabelle Hirsch: Pieces of a Woman What are the objects that make up a woman’s life? A cave painting? A metal corset? Radium-laced chocolate? In A History of Women in 101 Objects, Annabelle Hirsch tours the often overlooked history of women, uncovering new stories from the objects women… Irvine Welsh: Seeking Resolution Irvine Welsh: Seeking Resolution When former Edinburgh Police Detective Ray Lennox seeks a new, fresh start in Brighton, it isn’t long before he’s dragged back to the murky world he’s desperate to forget. Resolution is the latest in Irvine Welsh’s Crime series and is as gripping – and… Colson Whitehead talks to Kirsty Wark at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Colson Whitehead talks to Kirsty Wark at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Following the success of his book The Underground Railroad – named by Barack Obama as one of the most important books of his presidency – Colson Whitehead's new novel The Nickel Boys sees the Pulitzer Prize winning author visit 1960s Florida, a period of… Alberto Manguel and Miguel Syjuco (2010 event) Alberto Manguel and Miguel Syjuco (2010 event) Two writers of international significance discussing their latest novels and literary festivals… Maaza Mengiste: When Italy Invaded Ethiopia Maaza Mengiste: When Italy Invaded Ethiopia In Maaza Mengiste’s latest novel, the shadowy nature of figures from the past is played out in complex and interlocking ways. The Shadow King is powerful, stirring historical fiction that centres women within stories of war and battle that have… Pragya Agarwal & Shon Faye: Reframing the Personal and Political Pragya Agarwal & Shon Faye: Reframing the Personal and Political In what is ostensibly an era of choice, the most personal decisions we make – about our bodies and how we live our lives – continue to be subject to analysis, discussion and frequently unwelcome debate. We are under scrutiny and surrounded by assumptions… Marilynne Robinson: The Prodigal Son Marilynne Robinson: The Prodigal Son With her Gilead novels, Marilynne Robinson has created one of the most exquisitely and tenderly evoked communities in contemporary literature. Over four novels, Gilead, Home, Lila and now Jack, Robinson has portrayed life in the fictional small Iowa town… Alan Johnson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Alan Johnson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival If today’s politicians make you miserable, Alan Johnson may be the antidote. The former Labour Home Secretary has written a series of witty memoirs, and he’s regularly regaled Book Festival audiences with colourful tales of life beyond Westminster. In My… Judith Bryan, S I Martin & Nicola Williams with Bernardine Evaristo: Black Britain, Writing Back  Judith Bryan, S I Martin & Nicola Williams with Bernardine Evaristo: Black Britain, Writing Back  Winning the Booker Prize in 2019 changed everything for Bernardine Evaristo. But as well as enjoying international fame for herself, Evaristo has been able to turn up the volume on something she has been doing for years: championing the work of other… Jackie Kay: The People's Poet Jackie Kay: The People's Poet Beloved poet, novelist, playwright, and former Makar Jackie Kay joins us with her latest poetry collection, May Day. These profound and urgent poems draw on Kay’s decades of political activism, bringing influential figures from history to life, whilst…