One of the most exciting and illuminating aspects of the Edinburgh Book festival is the drawing together of great minds, juxtaposing scientists and philosophers, politicians and poets in a wide range of public discussions in order to debate major moral and political issues about life and society across the world.
Gore Vidal is regarded as one of the most erudite and incisive political commentators of the United States, - and closely related to the late Jackie Kennedy, he has an insider knowledge of the White House. He is an exceptional critic, essayist and storyteller. Outspoken, controversial and brutally honest, he says what he believes.
"American writers want to be not good, but great; and so are neither... What matters finally is not the world's judgement of oneself but one's judgement of the world. Any writer who lacks this final arrogance will not survive very long in America."
And he also is quoted as saying -
Gore Vidal is sure to be one of the latter - a showman, an entertainer, a genuine wit. And audiences are certainly taken by Vidal. So popular is his Meet the Author event on 16th August in Edinburgh, that a second appearance has now been arranged to satisfy public demand.
Also from the United States comes Elaine Showalter, the equally renowned social commentator. She has written numerous journalistic essays and social histories which eloquently question feminist issues and women's role in society. Showalter will be taking part in a major debate, Women in the 21st century with fellow writers on women's issues, Joan Smith and Diana Souhami. Topics will include the perennial concerns of women aspiring to "having it all" - marriage, family and a career. How will sex, money and power shape the lives and image of women in the 21st century?
"Before we even begin to ask how the literature of women would be different and special, we need to reconstruct its past, to rediscover women obscured by time, to establish the continuity of the female tradition, from decade to decade."
Elaine Showalter "Towards a Feminist Poetics"
On the subject of women breaking through the proverbial Glass Ceiling of our man's world, Anita Roddick, founder of the international natural cosmetics group, The Body Shop will talk about the impetus, ambition and energy behind the global success of her company, which is described in her autobiography, " Business as Usual" As an outspoken businesswoman, with strong beliefs about the environment, animal and human rights the debate will focus on Ethics and Business.
When Sophie's World, an introduction to philosophy, was published a few years ago, it quickly and most surprisingly became an international best seller. In the UK it sold over one million copies and became one of the most read books across Europe. Jostein Gaarder will take part in a discussion about his personal views and ideas about how to understand life and our place in the world. His new novel, Maya is an imaginative and complex narrative which examines the meaning of our lives, human emotion and the necessity of love.
Other thought-provoking discussions will cover major subjects such as War in the 21st century and the Future of Nuclear Arms. Angie Zelter was acquitted of damaging a Trident nuclear submarine in a sensational court case in which she defended herself. She will be in conversation about the morality and legality of nuclear weapons, with the Moderator of the Church of Scotland.
Crime Fiction, Thrillers and Science Fiction
Crime writers are quite literally, thrilling events and always a hot-ticket at the Book festival. Suspense, psychological studies, criminal profilers, brutal murders, and traditional police procedural tales, Scotland in particular has in recent years, spawned a whole new wave - a fresh and exciting genre of Tartan Noir - featuring a host of exceptionally fine and talented award winning crime writers include Val McDermid, Christopher Brookmyre, Denise Mina, Paul Johnson and Ian Rankin, author of the internationally acclaimed Inspector Rebus novels, set in Edinburgh.
Set in Darkness
"Rankin is a writer who is not yet forty, but whose consistent level of excellence is unmatched in the field of British crime writing."
The TimesBlack and Blue
"A first rate and gripping novel"
The Sunday Times"His fiction buzzes with energy. Essentially he is a romantic storyteller in the tradition of Robert Louis Stevenson"
"The Scottish James Elroy"
Val McDermid whose terrifying, page-turning, psychopath thrillers include "The Mermaids Singing" has been described as
"Compelling and shocking" Minette Walters.
"Thomas Harris meets Patricia Cornwall"
"One of my favourite authors" Sara Paretsky
" Superior storytelling"
In a variety of readings and discussions on all things sinister and murderous, contrasting writers will share a platform together to inspire a lively debate on the nature of crime writing and its consistent popularity as both the novel and adapted for television and cinema screen. In one fascinating event, the grand dame of British crime writing, Baroness James, (P. D. James), will be in conversation with Ian Rankin. P. D James has always used crime fiction in order to investigate the broader issues of social behaviour, morality, good and evil. Her latest Commander Dalgleish novel is entitled Death in Holy Orders.
Science Fiction writers include Iain M Banks, Brian Aldiss, Ken MacLeod and Paul MacAuley.
