The Book Festival has arrived!

The 27th Edinburgh Book Festival has opened, and a rich programme of events indeed are to be found this year. Our new Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy appeared on the opening day, as did Ruth Padel, Kate Atkinson, Sue Lawrence and Garrison Keillor. For those of you hooked on the TV series “The Wire”, two of the writers David Simon and Richard Price will be talking about their work on Saturday 29th and Friday 28th respectively. A dozen of Sweden’s best writers are on offer, including the widely popular Henning Mankell. Margaret Atwood will launch her new novel, as will Mathius Malzieu from France and Andrey Kurkov from the Ukraine. There will also be new works from Richard Dawkins, William Boyd, A L Kennedy and Irvine Welsh. Among the political figures appearing are Cherie Blair, Roy Hattersley and Shirley Williams. Richard Holloway, Guest Director of this year’s Book Festival has created a special series of evening debates in the Spiegeltent bringing together authors, thinkers and experts to debate subjects as disparate as the economic crisis and the true meaning of happiness. In this Homecoming year there is a Celebrating Scotland strand which will examine all things Scots including our National Bard, and will feature over 200 Scottish authors. A sprinkling of actors and comedians will also be around, including Frank Skinner, Arthur Smith, Diana Quick, Antony Sher and Joss Ackland. The children’s programme started off with Harry & the Dinosaurs before moving on to a unique interactive project to create a new “Beano” character – Posh Josh. Jacqueline Wilson is coming, and Cornelia Funke, not to mention lots of Story Time sessions to engage the youthful imagination. And to round off each full and stimulating day, there is music each night in the Spiegelbar from 9pm.
The Box Office in Charlotte Square Gardens is open daily from 9.30am to 8.30pm.