The Edinburgh International Book Festival was first “published” in 1983 as a Biennial event and due to its worldwide reputation and popularity, it became an annual event in 1997.
The launch of the 2016 programme took place at the Jam House, the former Broadcasting House, a most apt venue as the BBC motto “to inform, educate and entertain” is very much in keeping with the aim of the EIBF. Chairman Allan Little introduced the event with a passionate speech about the founding of the first Edinburgh Festival in 1947, how the city has shaped the Festival and how all the Festivals now shape us.
The theme of Director's Nick Barley's seventh Festival is “Imagine Better,” to try and make the world a better place through the power of writers. The programme is illustrated by an Eduardo Paolozzi – Pop Art inspired image of an autonomous mind expressing words, fiction, stories, the human experience. In this era of constant change, socially and politically, it is the role of writers and their readers to try and make sense of global uncertainty through debate, discussion, freedom of speech and shared ideas.
Understandably, the subject of migration, asylum and refuge takes centre stage, covering the current crisis in the Middle East and across Europe. A series of talks and events will cover the experiences of people from Egypt, Iran, Palestine and Syria.
Migration during the 19th century Hebridean Clearances forced an exodus of Scots to set off to the New World. In her faction narrative, “The View from Castle Rock,” Alice Munro wrote about her great-great-great grandfather James Laidlaw leaving the Ettrick Valley in the Borders to seek a better life in Canada. These stories have been adapted for the stage by Stellar Quines with daily performances as part of the EIBF & Festival Fringe, 11-29 August.
The 90 page programme features a captivating line up of novelists, biographers, historians, poets, politicians, critics, scientists, translators, musicians and actors. To pick out a few highlights is a tricky task!
Day one, Saturday 13th August, Paula Hawkins will discuss her bestselling thriller, “The Girl on the Train” with Esmahan Aykol, creator of the Kati Hirschel Istanbul-set mysteries.
Other thriller writers include Ian Rankin, Val McDermid , Chris Brookmyre, David Ashton and Alex Gray alongside Lena Andersson for a taste of Swedish psychological noir.
In the tranquil retreat of Charlotte Square Gardens, you have the opportunity to listen to such eminent authors as Thomas Kineally, Edna O’Brien, Erica Jong, Joan Bakewell, James Kelman, Jeanette Winterson, Howard Jacobson, Maggie O’Farrell, Alexander McCall Smith and Han Kang, winner of the Man Booker International prize, 2016.
Current Affairs, Popular Culture and Cookery are just some of the numerous topics to be discussed over the nineteen days. Sue Perkins will talk about soggy bottom cakes as well as her memoirs, Spectacles. The Scottish Makar, Jackie Kay will be joined by Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffyfor a Dialogue in Poems. Jim Haynes, co-founder of the Traverse Theatre will reminisce on his 60 year old love affair with Edinburgh.
Joyce McMillan, drama critic of The Scotsman will be discussing her new publication, "Theatre in Scotland: A Field of Dreams" covering thirty years of theatre reviews, Michael Billington (The Guardian), discusses his choice of 101 Greatest Plays and star of stage and screen, Alan Cumming talks showbiz. In the respective anniversary years of Shakespeare, Cervantes and Charlotte Bronte, there are talks and workshops to commemorate these literary legends.
And in contrast, the Book Festival promotes the debut work of emerging writers through meet the author sessions, the First Book Award and the lively Unbound entertainment with music and stories in the Spiegletent each evening.
In tandem with the main EIBF is the Baillie Gifford programme for Children and Young People, (under director Janet Smyth), serving a picnic feast of storytelling entertainment in the garden. 2016 commemorates milestone birthdays of Paddington Bear, The Broons, Oor Wullie and Winnie the Pooh who, like The Queen, reaches the grand age of 90, as well as special events on Roald Dahl and Beatrix Potter.
Floris, a small Edinburgh publisher is "chuffed to bits" that their author Ross MacKenzie's novel “The Nowhere Emporium”, won Best Story in the Blue Peter Book awards. He will be appearing to chat about this success as well his new (and slightly scarier!) book, "Shadowsmith".
Best known for her Shopaholic novels for adults, Sophie Kinsella will be joining Cecelia Ahern (PS I Love You), to chat about their first children’s books, while Julia “The Gruffalo” Donaldson is back with her popular songs and rhyme shows. Storybox presents a series of free events to ensure all children can be involved in meeting authors and illustrators and take part in art, writing and performance workshops.
The EIBF 2016 will welcome more than 800 authors from 55 countries, a truly multi-cultural and international celebration of language, words and creative thought - a platform for conversation with the world which takes Edinburgh to the world.
No wonder that Charlotte Square Gardens in August has been described as “the most civilised place on earth.”
Edinburgh International Book Festival – Saturday 13 to Monday 29 August, 2016.
Pick up a programme from Edinburgh Libraries and The Hub.
Tickets for all events go on sale at 8.30am Tuesday 21 June, 2016.
Phone – 0845 373 5888.
Box office - The Roxburghe Hotel, George Street, (21 June only). Thereafter, The Hub, Castlehill