Borders book festival announces summer line-up

Published 20 Apr 2010 14:05 0 Comments

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GIANTS of literature, entertainment and politics will meet in Melrose for four days of engaging, thought-provoking and inspirational talk and audience interaction this summer.

The programme has been announced for the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival which will be staged at Harmony House Gardens from June 17 to 20.

The Festival is also, uniquely, the setting for the announcement of two important national literary prizes, and in its seventh year welcomes a new title sponsor: independent private client investment managers Brewin Dolphin.

Taking to the festival stages will be Chris Mullin, Shirley Williams, Douglas Hurd and Rory Bremner, all sharing their particular experiences of political life; acclaimed novelists Hilary Mantel, William Fiennes, Andrew Greig and Robert Harris discussing their work; and providing some lighter moments will be Victoria Wood, Kathy Lette, and the QI team John Lloyd and John Mitchinson.

Much-respected broadcasters John Simpson, Fergal Keane and James Naughtie will bring their global observations to the Borders; while audiences will be enlightened by Dorothy Rowe on 'why we lie', three biographers and travel writers on their 'obsessions', and Dr Jim Wilson on the mapping of Scotland's DNA.

Alistair Moffat, festival director, said: "This is possibly our most glittering programme to date and I look forward to welcoming everyone, old friends and new.

"Live events like the Borders Book Festival are unique and unrepeatable. There is nowhere like Melrose for four days in the summer.

"And this year, the Festival finds itself at the very heart of national literary life because two out of the six major literary awards in Britain will be announced here."

The winner of the very first £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction, sponsored by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, will be announced as part of the Festival at Scott's home Abbotsford House, and some of the shortlisted authors will take part in a panel event later that day.

Meanwhile, shortlisted author Hilary Mantel and her book Wolf Hall will be the subject of BBC Radio 4's Book Club, which will be broadcast from the Festival.

The winner of Scotland's biggest literary prize, the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book Awards, will also be announced at the Festival at an awards ceremony hosted by James Naughtie. The four category winners in the running for the top award of £30,000 will be announced in tandem with today's programme launch.

The Family Book Festival, sponsored by estate agents Knight Frank, is bigger than ever, with favourites Michael Morpurgo, Eleanor Updale, Vivian French and John Fardell in the programme alongside storytelling, rhyme and printing art sessions.

Talented illustrator Ross Collins, crossover children's/adult author Christopher Lloyd, and leading 'steampunk' proponent Richard Harland will provide cracking escapist fun and facts for all the family. The popular 'Family Day Pass' discount scheme initiated at last year's festival will be extended to include four events per day.

Graham Garvie, Scottish Borders Council's Executive Member for Culture, Sport & Community Learning, Scottish Borders Council, said: "What Alastair Moffat and the Book Festival Team have achieved for the Borders is nothing short of sensational. Year on year, this inspiring event has just got better and better - and, because of it, the Borders is truly on the international literary map. And I am particularly pleased that so many of our young people are taking part in the Festival, facilitated by our Library Service."

The Festival also honours Scottish writers and performers, with events by acclaimed novelists and poets John Aberdein, Jackie Kay, Tom Leonard, Brian Johnstone and Ron Butlin, a session with TV supremo turned political novelist Alan Clements, singer and historian Anne Lorne Gillies, and a barnstorming end-of-festival concert by The Donnie Munro Band. Now in its seventh magnificent year, the Festival really will have something for everyone.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, the national events agency which has funded the Borders Book Festival for the past 3 consecutive years, said: "EventScotland has supported the Borders Book Festival through a period of remarkable growth in recent years and the line up announced today is testament to its status as one of the best book festivals in the UK.

"This year's festival will feature some of the biggest names in literature, politics and comedy, providing a heady mix of entertainment, debate and discussion.

"The Borders Book Festival continues to grow year on year and, with the introduction of the inaugural Walter Scott Prize this year, it will without doubt retain its position in the cultural events spotlight for many more to come."

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