Edinburgh Book Festival 2024

 

EIBF 2024

Since 2006 I have attended the EIBF. I would enjoy the fun, exuberance and festivities of the high street and after the walk down the mound and along George street to the relative calm and seclusion of the tree shaded book festival. A restorative juxtaposition.

 

Here I found a place of quiet reflection, big debate, colourful diversity, spontaneous conversations, intellectual challenge, famous faces, questioning politics. A place to anaylse or be informed. Intellectual freedoms and debates. There is also art, science, sport, history, economic and music and much more besides. It’s a place to refresh and for new ideas and interactions. .

 

EIBF was begun in 1983

EIBF is both national and international – with many well known Scottish authors – Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Alexander McCall Smith, Liz Lochhead, Christopher Brookmyre. Richard Holloway -  and also big names international names such as Elif Shakaf, Joseph Stiglitz, Margaret Atwood, Noam Chomsky and many more.

 

Neil Gaiman

Rachel Long

Simon Callow

This year the world leading book festival anticipates its brand new venue at the historic building next to the meadows  - with an expanded new outdoor Courtyard, the return of the Speigel tent and the Children’s tent in the courtyard, with lots of events and free activities to spark ideas and creativity.

Plus major events at the McEwan hall and food events at Elliott’s studio, Sciennes rd. 

 

My Top memories - One evening the Speigel tent was packed to hear an impromptu set by the Nile Rodgers! I felt so lucky to be there. He told stories of starting in Sesame street – and in-between played his songs with those very well kent riffs!

Another time was being mistaken for the famous Irish poet Seamus Heaney;s wife, on entering the book festival café, when Heaney we just ahead of me! 

 

I attend EIBF each year and its an unmatched place for informed debate, intellectual collaboration and creative thinking. Why are green activists targeting a place of free and open ideas for our future? When there are so many fake, ignorant click baits on so much of online media?

Ocean Vuong

This years theme is 'Future Tense' with a new venue at the Futures Institute – where Edinburgh’s famous Royal Infirmary once stood. And a new Scots festival director, Jenny Niven

 

Niven describes the Edinburgh festival as, “One of high octane and venerable, raucous and transformative, thoughtful and spontaneous….Is what brings the city to life, creating a playground for anyone who curiosity get the better of them. For ideas to take centre stage.”

“In a moment of such divisions and opposition – democracy thrives on good information, sanguine exchange  - the art of really listening and your voice deserves to be heard.”

TICKETS EIBF 2024 - https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

 

**There will be several book festival themes - 

 

Future Tense - A toast to the future/ brilliant fiction/ future library/ generations/ data/ future politics/ imaginative realm.

How to live a meaningful life

Voterarma

Justified sinner

 

Black & White Photos at Edinburgh book festival

Mark Baeumont

Tarqi Ali

Some portraits from the Edinburgh international book festival, because of their contrast go well into black and white, which is my favourite art form. 

 

We’ve had many famous faces and well known authors from across Scotland, the UK and the world, over the past twelve years. 

 

While some images only work in colour. 

Alan Cummings

Isabel Greenburg

Karl Ove Knausgaard

Katherine Quarmby

Neil Gaiman

I love the old-fashioned, graphic simplicity and impact of the black and white image. Or the way they capture textures, shadows and expression. 

Paul Muldoon

Ahdaf Souief-Andrew

Gao Xingjian

ian bell

Rowan Hisayo

Memories as Edinburgh book festival celebrates 40 Years

 

This year Edinburgh International book festival, one of the first book festivals, will celebrate 40 years. I have been attending the book festival and taken photos there as well as attending talks since 2008. My most impressive talks include – the pianist Alfred Brendel, George RR Martin, Tom Devine, Fintan OToole, 

Times Change and things move on….remember the Small Notes!

While memories inform who we are and will become. The EIBF has a new director Jenny Niven for 2024.

We had the traumas and seclusions of Covid that perhaps we’ve not recovered from really

(2020- 2022). It must have been a deadening impact on our children. Festivals were closed, the main streets empty, people were fearful of hugs and contacts – we were unprepared for anything like it. We held zoom meetings .some things continue. People moved for family now too, after the pain of separations.

 

The EIBF (and other major festivals) went online and continue with in person and online. 

 – EIBF began in 1983. I was last at Charlottes Square EIBF 2019. I used to enter its secluded and buoyant open square with many anticipation – of the famous faces, the informed conversation, the chance meetings and the vibrant buzz. The power of words, imagination, academic might, creativity, poetry and art.

 

Russian oligarchs have bought section of Charlotte Sq (why can Scotland not protect our land and resources?) and so the festival was forced after 36 years to relocate to new premises in 2021 and in 2024 will set up at the Futures Institute Edinburgh University. In 2021, EIBF set up at the Edinburgh art college for 3 years. Its not been quite the same with less space in the square for press, photo calls, books shops and people gathering. Sometimes it is simply time to move on. 

 

Last year 2022, I enjoyed several excellent talks, the inspiration continues – Fintan OToole, Oliver Bullough’s Butler to the World an the inspirational Outlander author Diana Gabaldon. 

**I have many great EIBF memories! – from the past fourteen years. Meeting Brian Cox (the actor) Alex Salmond, Alan Cummings, Nile Rodgers, George RR  Martin, Tom Devine, Alfred Brendel, Seamus Heaney, Fintan O’Toole, Li Yea, Freedom Coming of Age at the End of History. So many images!

 

The photo shoots were set up behind the press yurt, where we could see Bute house and the shadows and sunshine fall through the tall trees and over the Georgian facades. Or the late sun around five creating its own warm buzz. Having the front page of the Scotsman’s for Chelsea Clinton. Photos involve patience and waiting as well as inspiration. We learned them all at EIBF. Also the chat and meeting other interesting photographers – from Italy, Wales, Hebrides, Spain, England.

Diana Gabaldon

Martin Amos

**I have three powerful EIBF memories. 

I remember waiting one balmy afternoon, when I noted a small gathering of women and a robust man attempting to open the side gate. I realised quickly it was Game of Throne author George RR Martin. I walked quickly round to the press tent to inform them he was there (perhaps early) so he could be escorted in. I was also fortunate to get one of the two last tickets to his show! Martin talked of how much Scotland’s stories influenced his books – he spoke of standing on Hadrian’s wall thinking of the Roman soldiers there, so far from home.

 

Another vivid memory is my being mistaken as the wife of Seamus Heaney as I entered the main book signing tent! I was hugged and greeted and embarrassment followed. The great Irish poet was ahead inside the tent. 

 

My third great memory, is Nile Rodgers who gave us an impromptu concert one evening at the Spiegel tent, with chat about his life interspersed with his well loved guitar riffs and songs, and with everyone singing along. What a joy! 

Seamus Heaney

George RR Martin

Nile Rodgers

Another top talk was the great pianist Alfred Brendel (always remember the small notes!) Plus the wonderful informed talks by top Scots historian Tom Devine.who has done so much to restore Scottish stories  - the Darien Project, Scottish enlightenment, Lowland Clearances.

There is a strong international flavour at EIBF with great writers and thinkers from across the world attending. 

As well as many great Scots from the world of literature, film, politics, science, sport, art, novels, poetry, music, theatre and more besides. Many thanks to the press team for all their assistance.

 

Alfred Brendal - Remember the Small Notes! 

Quotes from his A Pianists A to Z  “Be aware of the middle voices. Chords can be illuminated from within. Character - For me it has always been the dualism of form and psychology, structure and character, intellect and feeling, that determine music making. “

Alan Cumming

Paris Riots of '68: talk Edinburgh book festival 2018

James McNaughtie interviewed highly respected Scottish author Neal Ascherson, at Edinburgh international book festival 2018,Iwho was BBC European correspondent in the 60s. The Cold War was halfway through; Vietnam war was raging; there was American imperialism to protect us from Russia.; there was Prague spring; Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King were assassinated in America.

It was a time to the old ideas…. 

The student unrest in Paris began when male students were not allowed to visit female dorms! Old France was not changing and France has retained the idea of revolution as a possibility, an unconscious idea. In 1789 to take to the streets and make everything different.  The establishment in Uk were terrified it would come to Britain. Late 18^thcentury, instead we suffered the suppression after Culloden and later there was imperial suppression on a global scale (slavery, exploitation)

Revolution – Marche On!

Students were jailed and large marches took place. They hoped to reframe communism with a human face. The university closed down, and the idea of self-management and independence took hold. 

In Berlin, there was the revival of late Marxism, to rediscover yourself, and create revolution. 

The Prague Spring - Eastern block, not Marxism. Polish revolutions, demonstrations and democracy at the level of the workplace. The communication of ideas was so important.

Riot police were used to smash communism/ republicanism to protect the state and there was intense tension

De Gaullewas an authoritarian general and highly presidential, his aim was to defend old France. Are you red or white? There was a frozen France.

The Sorbonne was a centre of revolution and barricade. 

The noise and sight of revolution was scary, with huge crowds gathering. Revolution ‘morphed’ and everything changes, institutions collapse, anything is possible. It is all intoxicating, all brothers in arms. Tear gas was used and violence and the French public were unaware. In Munich a student was killed by a brick. Neal believed, considering the level of violence more students were killed. 

It doesn’t last long though and leads to a new situation. Things began to subside and some scenes of dissolution and the beginning of a general strike. Germany was deeply against communism. 

 

The Legacy of the Paris Riots:  In France, the communists were divided. De Gaulle was protected by the French army in Germany. But the riots eventually defeated De Gaulle, who resigned a few months later.

There were changes in the Soviet system to stop this ever happening again. There were a  change in the social institutions with younger people in positions of power. It scared the established orders, that they could be overthrown; both America and Russia were both shaken. There was 67,000 killed in Vietnam. There were aspirations In Northern Ireland for democracy, and peoples marches. The media was extreme .

It all forced reforms in Germany, not suffocated by bureaucracy and institutions. It was a revelation and changed how people related to each other. Many of the rioters fled – and asked, where is the next barricade? Others concentrated on change in more humane and different ways, such as educating children. 

There was no time to chat over the unstable, leaderless and corrupt situation today. A very illuminating and highly interesting chat. 

This talk was part of EIBF Freedom and Equality series of events.  Vote for The Death of the Fronsac by Neal Ascherson in the First Book award.