The Edinburgh Book Festival was first held in 1983. It was held every other year until 1997 when it became an annual event. It takes place over the last three weeks in August in the heart of Edinburgh in Charlotte Square Gardens. It is part of the broader Edinburgh Festival.
The Edinburgh Book Festival at Charlotte Square
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Edinburgh Book Festival – Authors, Workshops & Debates
Hundreds of authors from all over Scotland and around the world are drawn to the Edinburgh Book Festival. There are hundreds of events including discussions, workshops, and debates about books and authors.
Ian Rankin speaks at the Book Festival in Edinburgh
There are also political debates, illustrators, creative writing, and events related to climate change, medicine, travel, publishing, and psychology. There are children’s events including the RBS Schools Program which introduces young writers to the public. Readings in the Writers’ Retreat explores issues like euthanasia and human rights.
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The Edinburgh Book Festival draws world class talent. Recent festivals have included Val McDermid, Margaret Atwood, Franz Ferdinand, Alan Bennet, Yann Martell, Alexander McCall Smith, Al Gore, Douglas Coupland, Sebastian Faulks, Germaine Greer, Zadie Smith, George Monbiot, Harold Pinter, Susan Sontag, Toni Morrison, Ian Rankin, Darren Shan, J.K. Rowling, Hanif Kureshi, Menzies Campbell, and Salman Rushdie.
Meet and greet with the world famous Salman Rushie at the Edinburgh Book Festival
The Edinburgh Book Festival has books and their authors, art, music, and events that entertain and educate. For three weeks every August the world gets a little smaller as people from all over the globe meet to share and discuss what they have in common – love for ideas, their expression, and all things human.
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June 29th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Edinburgh has also been awarded the title of UNESCO City of Literature, the first in the world to recieve this honour. The Book Festival played certainly a big part into the award. Enjoy the festival, and if you hate reading go at least for the homemade cakes and to look at how so many people pretend to be on the right side of the books.