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GERALD SCARFE He’s been like a massive pin sticking holes in the authority’s swollen balloons for five decades now, and Gerald Scarfe’s political cartoons show little sign of having the edge taken away from them. He studied with
Ralph Steadman and counts Pink Floyd, Disney and the Royal
Mail among his many collaborators, while in
his latest book, Monsters: How George Bush Saved the World and Other Tall Stories, we recall 50 years of his leader-bashing, including lacerating images of Churchill, Thatcher, Blair and Brown. (Brian Donaldson) ■ 19 Aug, 3pm, £6.
5QUESTIONS
Helen Oyeyemi is one of the brightest literary hopes in Britain with a couple of acclaimed novels under her belt. Here, she tackles our aspiring Q&A Give us five words to describe White is for Witching? Quaint, little, antique, quince, spoon. Which authors should be more famous than they are now? Jesse Ball, the consistently amazing Chicago-based poet and novelist. Samedi the Deafness and The Way Through Doors are adventure stories so adventurously told. What do you love about book festivals? Everything except going home at the end. Boo! Which dead author do you wish was still alive today? Alexandre Dumas the elder. It’s high time he updated his culinary dictionary; I bet he never had a scallion pancake. He would freak out at the deliciousness. What would you change about the publishing world? Increase diversity. (Interview by Brian Donaldson) ■ 19 Aug (with Mathias Malzieu), 7.30pm, £6 (£4).
Hitlist FESTIVAL BOOKS *
✽✽ Janice Galloway One of the nation’s most beloved writers recalls her childhood once more as she muses over the tricksily-titled memoir, This is Not About Me. 20 Aug, 11.30am, £9 (£7). ✽✽ Emmanuel Jal There are few people who could even imagine the terrors of being a child made to fight in a war- torn homeland. This guy has lived it and come through the other side. See page 14. 15 Aug, 8.30pm, £9 (£7). ✽✽ Jen Hadfield In a year of poetry shocks, this Shetland- based writer made a few waves of her own by scooping the massively prestigious TS Eliot prize. See page 15. 17 Aug, 4.30pm, £6 (£4). ✽✽ Dave Gorman The globetrotting comic reflects upon the time he crossed America by trying to avoid the chainstores and brand names. It sure wasn’t easy, boy. See page 16. 16 Aug, 8pm, £9 (£7). ✽✽ Mio Matsumoto The threat of cancer loomed large over this young Japanese artist, but she turned her pain into a graphic novel of much renown. See page 17. 15 Aug, 2.30pm, £9 (£7); 15 Aug, 5pm, £4. ✽✽ David Aaronovitch Feel a little queasy when you hear a far-fetched conspiracy theory? You’ll be in safe hands here as the writer and broadcaster tut tuts before those who seek explanations beyond all reason for some of the world’s most epochal events. See page 19. 20 Aug, noon, £9 (£7). ✽✽ Denise Mina The increasingly diverse writer talks crime today alongside genre pal Alex Gray. See page 16. 18 Aug, 6.45pm, £9 (£7). All events are based in Charlotte Square Gardens. Box office: 0845 373 5888. See edbookfest.co.uk and www.list.co.uk/festival/ books
13–20 Aug 2009 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 13