Edinburgh International Book Festival
Encyclopedia
The Edinburgh International Book Festival, is a book festival that takes place in the last three weeks of August every year (in the midst of the general Edinburgh Festival
) in Charlotte Square
, in the centre of Edinburgh
, Scotland
’s capital. The largest festival of its kind in the world, the Book Festival hosts a concentrated flurry of cultural and political talks and debates, along with its well-established children’s events programme. It coincides with the Edinburgh International Festival
and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as well as the other festivals which comprise the Edinburgh Festival
.
was named the first UNESCO
City of Literature
in 2004.
Recent festivals have featured the likes of:
Running alongside the general programme is the Children's programme. Incorporating workshops, storytelling, panel discussions, author events and book signings, the Children's programme is popular with both the public and schools alike and now ranks as the world's premier books and reading event for young people. It regularly attracts authors like Jacqueline Wilson
, Joan Lingard
, Charlie Higson
and Anne Fine
.
, Edinburgh
, at the West End of Princes Street
.
, which is centred around second hand book shops in the West Port
area of the city. Both fringe festivals provide free events and are seen as a less formal alternative to the main festival.
Official Edinburgh Festivals Guide
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
) in Charlotte Square
Charlotte Square
Charlotte Square is a city square in Edinburgh, Scotland, part of the New Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The square is located at the west end of George Street, intended to mirror St. Andrew Square in the east.-History:Initially named St...
, in the centre of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
’s capital. The largest festival of its kind in the world, the Book Festival hosts a concentrated flurry of cultural and political talks and debates, along with its well-established children’s events programme. It coincides with the Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around the middle of August. By invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music , theatre, opera...
and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as well as the other festivals which comprise the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
.
History
The Book Festival originally took place in a tent in Edinburgh in 1983. At first a biannual event, the Festival became yearly in 1997. It is now a large (ever-growing) international event, central to Edinburgh's acclaimed August arts celebrations. Perhaps as a result of this, EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
was named the first UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
City of Literature
City of Literature
UNESCO's City of Literature program is part of its Creative Cities Network which was launched in 2004. The Network was born out of UNESCO's Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity initiative which was created in 2002...
in 2004.
Programme
There are over 700 events for both adults and children in the three weeks that the Book Festival runs. They range from writing workshops, education events, panel discussions, to talks and performances by international writers, poets, musicians and thinkers.Recent festivals have featured the likes of:
Running alongside the general programme is the Children's programme. Incorporating workshops, storytelling, panel discussions, author events and book signings, the Children's programme is popular with both the public and schools alike and now ranks as the world's premier books and reading event for young people. It regularly attracts authors like Jacqueline Wilson
Jacqueline Wilson
Dame Jacqueline Wilson, DBE, FRSL is an award-winning English author, known for her vast and diverse work in children's literature. Her novels have been adapted numerous times for television, and commonly deal with such challenging themes as adoption, divorce and mental illness...
, Joan Lingard
Joan Lingard
Joan Lingard is a Scottish novel writer.- Career :Lingard has written novels for both adults and children...
, Charlie Higson
Charlie Higson
Charles Murray Higson , more commonly known as Charlie Higson - also Switch - is an English actor, comedian, author and former singer...
and Anne Fine
Anne Fine
Anne Fine, OBE FRSL is a British author best known for her children's books, of which she has written more than 50. She also writes for adults...
.
Venue
The Book Festival is held in a set of marquees in Charlotte Square GardensCharlotte Square
Charlotte Square is a city square in Edinburgh, Scotland, part of the New Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The square is located at the west end of George Street, intended to mirror St. Andrew Square in the east.-History:Initially named St...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, at the West End of Princes Street
Princes Street
Princes Street is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, and its main shopping street. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1 mile from Lothian Road in the west to Leith Street in the east. The street is mostly closed to private...
.
Fringe events
As with all large and successful festivals, the EIBF has sprouted a number of fringe events over the years. In 2004 and 2006 an event called Thirsty Lunch promoted itself as a cheap, non-establishment alternative. In 2008 there are now two separate festivals which run at the same time as the main book festival. The first is the Edinburgh Book Fringe, which holds its events at the Word Power bookshop. The second is the West Port Book FestivalWest Port Book Festival
The West Port Book Festival is a book festival which is held in Edinburgh. It was run during the busy Edinburgh Festival season for its first years, but it now takes place in June. This year's festival runs from 24th - 27th June....
, which is centred around second hand book shops in the West Port
West Port, Edinburgh
West Port is a street in Edinburgh's Old Town, Scotland, located just south of Edinburgh Castle. It runs from Main Point down to the south west corner of the Grassmarket...
area of the city. Both fringe festivals provide free events and are seen as a less formal alternative to the main festival.
See also
- City Of Literature
- Scottish Publishers Association
- The Man Booker Prize Winner announced at the Festival
- James Tait Black Memorial PrizeJames Tait Black Memorial PrizeFounded in 1919, the James Tait Black Memorial Prizes are among the oldest and most prestigious book prizes awarded for literature written in the English language and are Britain's oldest literary awards...
- Webcam coverage (during festival)
Official website
Official Edinburgh International Book Festival websiteOfficial Edinburgh Festivals Guide