FESTIVAL BOOKS | Top Tips TOP TIPS
Plan a day out with the many events on offer at the Edinburgh International Book Festival over the next week and a half
FRI 18
Gardens to talk about inequality and austerity. If you miss him here, you can also catch him in Frankie Vah, his new play at Underbelly. Charlotte Square Gardens, 5.45pm, £12 (£10).
HEATHER MCDAID & NICOLA PAUL AUSTER
STURGEON WITH ELIF SHAFAK You’ll be lucky if you can get tickets for this long sold-out event with the First Minister, Turkish author and co- editor of Nasty Women. But if you’re at liberty to queue for returns, we think it’s a must. Charlotte Square Gardens, 11.45am, £12 (£10.)
MATT HAIG Reasons to Stay Alive, his excellent book on his own mental health, cemented Haig’s position as a writer of note back in 2015. This year, he’s in Edinburgh to talk about his much anticipated new novel, How to Stop Time. Bosco Theatre, 12.30pm, £12 (£10).
RENI EDDO-LODGE See preview, page 33. Charlotte Square Gardens, 4pm, £12 (£10).
LUKE WRIGHT Long-time Fringe favourite Wright heads to Charlotte Square
One of this year’s most anticipated events, Auster takes to the stage for the second time in August, this time to talk about his latest novel 4 3 2 1. Charlotte Square Gardens, 8.15pm, £12 (£10).
LAURIE PENNY The celebrated writer and commentator chats to Jenny Niven about politics and feminism, following the release of Bitch Doctrine. See interview at list.co.uk/ festival Charlotte Square Gardens, 8.45pm, £12 (£10).
SAT 19 JENNI MURRAY See the Radio 4 broadcaster and Woman’s Hour presenter chat about her heroines through her book, A History of Britain in 21 Women. Charlotte Square Gardens, 3.15pm, £12 (£10).
A Tribute to Stephanie Wolfe Murray
36 THE LIST FESTIVAL 17–28 Aug 2017
NADINE AISHA JASSAT, JOELLE OWUSU & LAURA
audience. Charlotte Square Gardens, 9pm, free.
WADDELL If you’ve been anywhere near the book world this year, you’ll have heard of the wonderful Nasty Women, a collection of vibrant essays published by Scotland’s own 404 Ink. Here, three of the contributors talk about their work. Charlotte Square Gardens, 4.30pm, £12 (£10).
ZADIE SMITH Smith returned to the literary fray last year with Swing Time, her first novel in five years. Hear her talk to Stuart Kelly about the book. Charlotte Square Gardens, 6.45pm, £12 (£10).
HIS BLOODY PROJECT BY GRAEME MACRAE BURNET
The Royal Lyceum Theatre present a theatrical exploration of scenes from the Booker Prize shortlisted novel, followed by a discussion with the creative team and the author. Charlotte Square Gardens, 8pm, £15 (£12).
SUN 20 JESSICA THUMMEL & TOMMY WIERINGA
Jessica Thummel’s impressive debut, The Cure for Lonely, won the Dundee International Book Prize last year, for its searing portrait of a transgender man trying to live freely in 1980s USA. Here, she and Tommy Wieringa (A Beautiful Young Wife) talk about their work. Charlotte Square Gardens, 3.30pm, £8 (£6).
MON 21
ABIR MUKHERJEE & KAITE WELSH
A chance to see two emerging historical crime authors: Welsh’s first book The Wages of Sin features medic-detective Sarah Gilchrist, while Mukherjee follows up his Calcutta Police Force-set book A Rising Man with A Necessary Evil. Charlotte Square Gardens, 2pm, £8 (£6).
MAGGIE O’FARRELL O’Farrell returns to the book festival, this time to talk about her memoir of near-death experience, I Am, I Am, I Am. Charlotte Square Gardens, 6.45pm, £12 (£10).
UNBOUND: BEATING NEW PASSAGES
A night of words and music exploring Scotland’s relationship with India, featuring Yorkston/Thorne/Khan, Aziz & Dal, Abir Mukherjee and Nalini Paul. Charlotte Square Gardens, 9pm, free.
TUE 22 HEINZ HELLE & LOUISE WELSH With No Dominion, Welsh concludes her Plague Times trilogy. Here, she speaks alongside German author Helle, whose Euphoria is an engaging post-apocalyptic tale of its own. Charlotte Square Gardens, 8.45pm, £12 (£10).
UNBOUND: MEET THE LAST
JEMIMA FOXTROT, IONA LEE, POETS
SABRINA MAHFOUZ & SOPHIA
WALKER Four of the UK’s most exciting spoken word artists perform their work. Charlotte Square Gardens, 4pm, £12 (£10).
ALI SMITH Autumn is one of Ali Smith’s best novels yet. Here, she chats to Daniel Hahn about a captivating piece of work and the possibility of Winter. Charlotte Square Gardens, 5pm, £12 (£10).
MR CAREY & JOE HILL The authors of The Girl With All the Gifts (Carey) and The Fireman (Hill) get together to chat about their post-apocalyptic visions. Charlotte Square Gardens, 5.45pm, £12 (£10).
UNBOUND: TRUE STORIES LIVE
– LOST & FOUND Molly Naylor introduces a range of storytellers who will take to the stage to tell their true tales to tonight’s
The Last Poets have been dubbed ‘the godfathers of hip hop’. See them perform and hear more about their history and influence. Charlotte Square Gardens, 9pm, free.
WED 23 A TRIBUTE TO STEPHANIE WOLFE MURRAY
This special event commemorates the life and work of Stephanie Wolfe Murray, the co-founder of Canongate Books, who died this year. Among her many formidable achievements was the publication of Alasdair Gray’s Lanark, and Gray himself will be talking at this event, among a host of other friends. Charlotte Square Gardens, 7.15pm, free.
EILEEN MYLES The inspiration behind Transparent, don’t miss this chance to see American poet and performer Eileen Myles own the stage. Charlotte Square Gardens, 8.45pm, £12 (£10.)