list.co.uk/festival Claire Flynn and Yasmin Sulaiman select highlights from the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s packed programme. All events at Charlotte Square Gardens, 0845 373 5888.
THU 18
Jack Shenker The former Egypt correspondent for The Guardian presents his book The Egyptians, which examines what happened to social justice and democracy in the nation after the Arab Spring uprisings. 12.15pm, £12 (£10). Tim Burgess with Ian Rankin The lead singer of iconic Britpop band the Charlatans joins one of Scotland’s most beloved crime writers to discuss their shared passion for vinyl. 8.15pm, £12 (£10).
Jan Carson & Lara Williams These two talented writers are connected by a love for short stories. Carson’s Children’s Children, is a collection looking mainly at the social divides in Northern Ireland, while Williams’ Treats explores love, sex and alienation in the modern world. 8.30pm, £8 (£6).
FRI 19
Doctor Book Doctor Book has arrived at Charlotte Square to write prescriptions for some fantastic new books to read – literary fun for the whole family. 10.30am, free drop-in.
Jenni Fagan & Andrew McMillan Edinburgh-based writer Fagan arrives at EIBF to present The Dead Queen of Bohemia, a collection of poems from across her career, alongside McMillan, whose i rst poetry collection, Physical, won last year’s Guardian First Book Award. 7pm, £8 (£6). Unbound: The EVP Sessions A collaboration between Penned in the Margins and Mercy, Electronic Voice Phenomena is looked at in this electrifying event. Featuring multimedia artist Appau Junior Boakye-Yiadom, performance poet Harry Giles, poet and musician Antosh Wocjik, and award-winning storyteller Ross Sutherland, this promises to be a memorable evening. 9pm, free drop-in.
SAT 20
Hollie McNish The popular spoken word artist and YouTube star, who recorded an album at Abbey Road, performs from her poetry collection Nobody Told Me, which explores issues of parenthood. 5.30pm £12 (£10). Juliet Jacques Her ‘A Transgender Journey’ Guardian column was longlisted for the Orwell Prize, and Jacques arrives at Charlotte Square to discuss the account of her life, Trans: A Memoir, and her continual campaign to combat intolerance and prejudice. 5.45pm, £12 (£10). Brix Smith Start The former member of post-punk band the Fall (and ex-wife of its infamous leader Mark E Smith) turned fashion guru, discusses her autobiography The Rise, The Fall and the Rise. 8.45pm, £12 (£10).
Unbound: Tongue Fu An unpredictable and entertaining experiment in live literature, music and improvisation, created and hosted by poet Chris Redmond. 9pm, free drop-in.
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AYELET GUNDAR-GOSHEN The award-winning Israeli writer is in Edinburgh talking about her novel, Waking Lions, which looks at the consequences of an exhausted doctor who commits a hit-and-run against a backdrop of racial and class tension. ■ Sat 20, 5pm, £8 (£6).
SUN 21
James Kelman Scotland’s only Man Booker Prize winner has teamed up with Scottish publisher Canongate for his latest novel Dirt Road, in which a father and son head across the Atlantic for Memphis, in a tale dealing with loneliness and loss. 3.15pm, £12 (£10). Hadley Freeman The Guardian and Vogue columnist is so obsessed with movies from the 80s that she’s actually written a book about them. Life Moves Pretty Fast features all the classics, including Ghostbusters, Back to the Future and (obviously) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. 7.15pm, £12 (£10).
Chris Brookmyre One of Scotland’s most critically acclaimed crime writers adds a feminist edge to his latest endeavour entitled Black Widow, which takes on sexism in the workplace, revenge porn and internet trolling. 8.15pm, £12 (£10). Lemn Sissay Sissay’s latest poetry collection, Gold from the Stone, combines new writing with some of his most popular work. Darting between the political and the personal, Sissay proves after an 18-year career that he is still an incredibly important voice on the British poetry scene. 8.45pm, £12 (£10).
Unbound: From Lewis to Lahore Last year, EIBF partnered with Highlight Arts to embark on a journey from Scotland to Pakistan and back again, stopping at the Lahore Literary Festival. This adventure is represented by creatives from both countries in this event, featuring storytellers, illustrators and musicians. 9pm, free drop-in.
MON 22
Valerie Gillies, Martin MacIntyre & Lesley Morrison with Gavin Francis Tools of the Trade is the name of a small poetry collection given to all new doctors in Scotland, which explores the achievements and challenges of being a junior doctor. GP Morrison and poets Gillies and MacIntyre explore what poetry can contribute to modern-day medicine. 5.45pm, £12 (£10). Jessie Burton & Susan Fletcher Burton’s The Miniaturist was one of the best-selling debuts of the decade and she returns with The Muse, a tale about love, aspiration and identity. She is joined by Fletcher, winner of the Whitbread First Novel Award, who discusses her new novel Let Me Tell You About a Man I Knew, which offers a sensitive look at the i nal years of Van Gogh’s life. 7pm, £8 (6).
The Great YA Debate Daniel Hahn chairs a discussion with several writers for young adults, examining the emergence of the YA genre, and whether it prevents teenagers moving onto more complex and sophisticated novels. 7.30pm, £8 (£6).
TUE 23
Malcolm Harvey & Michael Keating The debate over Scottish independence has grown steadily louder in the wake of the vote for Brexit. Co-authors of Small Nations in a Big World, Harvey and Keating discuss the Nordic and Baltic states, and the lessons they offer in the decision over Scotland’s future. 4pm, £12 (£10). Meg Rosoff Having penned great novels for teenagers, this Boston-born, Britain- based author has completed her i rst book for adults, Jonathan Unleashed. 7pm, £8 (£6).
Unbound: Born to be Wide Born to be Wide is a community interest company, i ghting the cause for quality music, writing and storytelling. The leader ‘Olaf the Enforcer’ is joined by some of Scotland’s newest talents for an evening of stories and music. 9pm, drop-in.
18–29 Aug 2016 THE LIST FESTIVAL 33