Recommended Reading

Rockstars, historians, comedians and politicians will all be trying their hand at authorship this summer, writes Yasmin Sulaiman

feature (edinburgh) | Read in About 4 minutes
Published 28 Jul 2008

Of all Edinburgh's multitude of summer arts festivals, the International Book Festival, now in its 25th year, boasts a unique character of sophistication thanks to its tranquil New Town setting. Charlotte Square is annually transformed – seemingly tripling in size – to accommodate an array of marquees that will become the home of the global literati for just two and a half short weeks.

Among this year’s glitziest attendees is Scotland’s own Sean Connery, whose autobiography – simply titled Being a Scot – will launch at the event to great fanfare. Other heavyweights among the book festival’s Scottish contingent in 2008 include local favourites Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and 44 Scotland Street, crime fiction novelist Ian Rankin and Trainspotting writer Irvine Welsh, while poet Liz Lochhead and novelist James Kelman, both flagship innovators of writing in Scots dialect, will also be appearing.

This year, however, it’s the stellar array of international authors that are set to wow audiences at Edinburgh’s premier book festival. Salman Rushdie, fresh from the victory of having Midnight’s Children reconfirmed as the best of the Bookers, will be discussing his new novel, The Enchantress of Florence, and Margaret Atwood, perhaps Canada’s most eminent literary figure, explores her tartan roots in an exclusive reading from an as-yet unpublished story set on a Scottish settlement in Nova Scotia.

What’s more, Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club and icon to a generation of twenty-something fiction readers, will introduce his new novel in what promises to be a unique event. And Anne Enright – the surprise winner of the Man Booker Prize for her book, The Gathering, last autumn – will talk about her new collection of stories, Taking Pictures.

The world of history is well represented too, with historian Simon Sebag Montefiore – who received much acclaim for his account of Young Stalin – conversing on his first work of fiction, Sashenka. Tariq Ali, whose accounts of postcolonial history have captured the imaginations of readers across the world, is set to talk about his heartfelt memoir of the 1960s, Streetfighting Years, while Richard Dawkins – now surely the world’s most famous atheist – will preach to a packed, eager audience.

Nevertheless, out of all the non-fiction participants in this year’s book festival, it’s the political stalwarts that look set to dazzle audiences the most. Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, will speak exclusively on his role in influencing Scotland’s cultural and political climate. Renowned for his impressive oratory skills, this is one of the festival’s most highly anticipated events, and is likely to be littered with probing questions and arguments on the future of the union.

Not to be upstaged by the Scottish National Party, figures from across the UK’s political spectrum will be paying the Scottish capital a visit. Former Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, will discuss his forthcoming autobiography, Prezza: Pulling No Punches, while ex-Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, will reminisce over his long-standing athletic and political career in the run up to the release of his own life story.

Fans of the Fringe and the Edinburgh International Festival, on the other hand, are certain to appreciate the book festival’s attempts to blur the boundaries between page and stage. Acclaimed performer and writer, Steven Berkoff, talks about his love of food – an affinity that has spanned the length of his forty-year career. Award-winning comedian and Fringe comedy favourite Mark Watson will also wax lyrical on his recent attempts to halve his carbon footprint, while Glaswegian comic Hardeep Singh Kohli appears to share his experience writing Indian Takeaway, his attempt to cook his way around India. And in a move that’s certain to have all Blur fans aching with glee, bassist-turned-organic-farmer Alex James will recount his musical experiences on the Festival’s opening day.

With such an eclectic and star-studded line-up, the Edinburgh International Book Festival looks set to wow audiences once again in 2008, in fine testament to its 25-year history. And if you’re having difficulty buying tickets for book festival events, don’t despair – daily features like the Amnesty International Imprisoned Writers’ Series offer free tickets available for collection on the same day as the event. So it’ll always be possible to take in the vibrant atmosphere of the book festival in August, even if you’re just enjoying a relaxing afternoon of reading in Charlotte Square’s tranquil surroundings. Just watch out for Edinburgh’s most unpredictable summer visitor: the sunshine.