Sapphire

Edinburgh Festival Guide
22 July 2011

This article is from 2011.

Author of "Push" among highlights of this years International Book Festival

Now in its second year under new directorship, the Edinburgh International Book Festival is striding with yet more purpose across the August landscape. As well as the usual array of dazzling literary talent from around the globe and on our doorstep, the innovations just keep on coming. Another excellent Unbound programme has been unveiled, while the last-night star-studded performance of Alasdair Gray's Fleck will be a major highlight. Among the individual authors coming to town, Sapphire is a clear stand-out. Her debut novel was turned into the Oscar-winning movie Precious (pictured), and 14 years later, she is publishing a sequel, The Kid.

Charlotte Square Gardens, 0845 373 5888, 22 Aug, 8pm, £10 (£8).

Alasdair Gray's Fleck

After a sell-yer-granny-for-a-ticket debut at Edinburgh International Book Festival last year, Alasdair Gray's modern adaptation of Faust gets another outing courtesy of Margins Book and Music Festival, with an equally starry cast including Alan Bissett, Allan Wilson, Zoe Strachan, Louise Welsh, Chiew Siah-Tei, Rodge…

Sapphire with Bidisha

After a literary silence of 14 years, the author and performance poet returns with The Kid, the story of an orphan reaching manhood. Bidisha interviews the author whose first book was turned into the Oscar-winning Precious.

Unbound

Featuring leading lights of the literary world our Unbound evenings proved to be a phenomenal success last year and we are thrilled to bring you a second helping. Eclectic and entertaining, events can feature anything and everything so please come with a big smile and an open mind!