Books, Borders, Bikes
An intriguing two-day literary festival in the historical surroundings of Traquair in Peebleshire, Scotland. Traquair House, which appears to be festival central, dates back to 1107 and is Scotland's olderst inhabited house! We note that it has it's own micro brewery, not that is of any interest to us...
The festival involves elements of bike riding and walking all with a literary twist as well talks and forums. It brings together a remarkable collection of Scottish broadcasters, international writers and cultural leaders of iconic small nations from around the world in the process.
It is organised by Beyond Borders, a Scottish-based creative initiative dedicated to showcasing the work of writers, intellectuals and filmmakers who come from small nations around the world. Their patrons include Lord Brown, Lord Steel, Sir Menzies Campbell, Helena Kennedy QC, Baroness Smith and Sir Kieran Prendergast.
When? August
W
here? Traquair House, Innerleithen, Peebleshire, EH44 6PW
Who? 2012 TBA
How Much are Tickets? Between £8 - £45 (depending on type of ticket)
Festival Website? www.beyondbordersscotland.com
Books, Borders and Bikes Programme for 2011
International writers and cultural leaders of iconic small nations from around the world including Dr. Abuelaish from Palestine, diplomats such as Jonathan Powell and Sir Kieran Prendergast, campaigners such as Gareth Pierce and Mark Thomas, writers and journalists such as William Dalrymple, David Starkey (left) and Marie Colvin and a range of presenters include Mariella Frostrup, Magnus Linklater, James Runcie and Allan Little.
SATURDAY 20TH AUGUST
9.00 - 11.00
Storytelling Cycle Ride
Cycle from Neidpath Castle to Traquair with Scottish storyteller John Nichol and writer of The Bicycle Book, Bella Bathurst, as they enjoy the Border landscape.
10.00 - 11.45
The Literary Walk
Join local writer Fiona J. Houston and Olivia Laing for a literary walk along the River Tweed, as they discuss the relationship between memory and landscape.
10.00 – 10.45
Woodland Walk
Traditional stories from the mists of time told amongst the trees and burns in the magical grounds of Traquair House. Meet local storyteller Mary Kenny on the wine-glass lawn, where your journey with stories will begin and return.
Aimed at adults and children over 7 years
11:15 – 11.45
Perfect Balance
An engaging portrait of the simple joys of bicycling with Bella Bathurst
Writer and journalist Bella Bathurst on joys of bicycling as she talks to Penny Smith about her Bicycle Book in a celebration the bicycle and its glorious history providing freedom to the masses.
12:00 – 12:45
From the Source to the Sea
Olivia Laing, writer and former Observer deputy books editor, talks to James Runcie about her mesmerising new book To The River and the relationship between language, landscape and identity.
13.00 - 13.45
Tales from Afghanistan
Magnus Linklater talks to William Dalrymple about his life and his forthcoming book about British endeavours in Afghanistan in the 19th century, while Des Browne gives a 21st century perspective.
Spend a dazzling afternoon with Dehli based Scots born writer William Dalrymple as he talks about his latest book on the British experience of Afghanistan in the 19th Century, as Magnus Linklater quizzes former Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne on their own experiences of the Afghanistan and Afghans in the 21st Century and the prospects of British success and failure.
14.00 - 14.45
Crown and Country
Penny Smith welcomes David Starkey back to Traquair to talk about his latest book and the future of the Royal Family in British life.
British historian and Tudor specialist David Starkey talks about the future of the Royal Family and his latest book Crown and Country: A History of England through the Monarchy.
15.15 - 16.00
Love and Death in Gaza
Mark Muller Stuart QC talks to Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish about why he refuses to hate following the tragic death of his three daughters during the bombing of Gaza in 2009.
On 16th January 2009, Dr Abuelaish’s three daughters were killed during the bombing of Gaza, minutes before he was to speak live on Israeli television. In response to this tragedy, Dr Abuelaish called for the people in the region to start talking to each other. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and received humanitarian awards around the world. I Shall Not Hate is his account of his extraordinary life.
16.15 - 17.00
How to Win and Keep Hold of Power
Magnus Linklater talks to Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair’s Chief of Staff, about the lessons learnt during his time in No.10
Join Tony Blair’s former Chief of Staff, Jonathan Powell, as he discusses his new book on Machiavelli, the Blair and Brown years, and his new role as an international mediator, with Magnus Linklater.
17.15 - 18.00
The Arab Spring and the Power of Democracy
Oscar Guardiola-Rivera talks about the power of democracy with Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, Rashed Rahman, Sir Kieran Prendergast and Marie Colvin.
A panel discussion on the power of democracy in small nations across the world, focusing on the Arab Spring, with Britain’s foremost female war correspondent, Marie Colvin. editor of Pakistan’s Daily Times, Rashed Rahman, Gazan surgeon Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish, witty Columbian philosopher Oscar Guardiola-Rivera and former UN diplomat Sir Kieran Prendergast.
18.30 – 19.15
Libyan Graffiti Exhibition Reception
A reception hosted by Mark Muller QC and human rights lawyer Jason McCue, who visited Benghazi in Libya days after the No Fly Zone was announced, and negotiated a number of agreements with the Rebel Leadership on crucial legacy issues, including Lockerbie, transitional justice and the rule of law.
Photojournalist Teun Voeten was also in Benghazi at that time, and captured revolutionary graffiti and caricatures that appeared in their hundreds. These images illustrate how the Arab Spring of 2011 deployed graffiti in its most powerful and political form and how this form of artistic expression was used as a mouthpiece of protest by young men and women willing to risk their lives for an ideal – democracy and freedom. Ultimately, these images demonstrate the way in which ridicule constitutes one of the most powerful threats to any dictator or regime that depends on fear to exercise its power. They indicate a new existence of profound freedom of expression that will not go away.
SUNDAY 21st AUGUST
9.00 - 11.45
Storytelling Cycle Ride
Cycle from Abbotsford to Traquair with Scottish storyteller John Nichol and hear the Borders’ landscape whisper its enchanting tales.
10.00 – 10.45
Woodland Walk
Traditional stories from the mists of time told amongst the trees and burns in the magical grounds of Traquair House. Meet local storyteller Mary Kenny on the wine-glass lawn, where your journey with stories will begin and return.
Aimed at adults and children over 7 years
12.00 – 12.45
The Stuart Dynasty in the Scottish Borders
Geoffrey Baskerville in conversation with Allan Massie and Catherine Maxwell Stuart on the legacy of the Stuart dynasty.
Immerse yourself in the stirring tales of the Stuart Dynasty with Scottish Borders’ premier historian, Allan Massie, author of The Stuarts and Catherine Maxwell Stuart as they discuss the Stuart legacy with Geoffrey Baskerville
13.00 - 13.45
Zimbabwe at the Crossroads
Allan Little talks with Sir Kieran Prendergast, Mordecai Mahlangu, Petina Gappah and William Burdett-Coutts about the future of Zimbabwe.
Join the BBC’s Special Correspondent Allan Little in conversation with former UN Under-Secretary-General Sir Kieran Prendergast, acclaimed novelist and lawyer Petina Gappah, author of Elegy for Easterly, with human rights advocate Mordecai Mahlangu and Assembly Rooms founder William Burdett-Coutts.
14.00 – 14.45
Pakistan – A Failing State?
William Dalrymple talks to Rashed Rahman, editor of the Daily Times of Pakistan, about the trials and tribulations of Pakistan and recounts a story of Pakistan from his own book, Nine Lives.
15.00 – 15:45
Dispatches from the Darkside
Gareth Peirce in conversation with Allan Little about Guant�namo and the UK’s alleged complicity in torture.
Join the celebrated civil rights lawyer, Gareth Peirce, in conversation with BBC’s Special Correspondent Allan Little, as she recounts her experiences in defence of liberty from her involvement in the U.S. civil rights movement to the freeing of the Birmingham Six onto those detained at Guant�namo Bay.
16.00– 16:45
The Future of Scotland & the Union
David Starkey and Sir Menzies Campbell debate the Union and whether Scotland really is “a feeble little country”. Lord Steel presides.
A debate on the future of Scotland & the Union with acclaimed historian and broadcaster David Starkey and former leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Menzies Campbell.
With Alex Salmond and Fiona Hyslop to be confirmed.
17.00– 17:45
Dividing Small Nations
Comedian, writer and broadcaster Mark Thomas talk to Oscar Guardiola-Rivera about his recent walk along the wall in Palestine.
Comedian and activist Mark Thomas walked the entire length of the 700km Israeli Separation Barrier in 2010, crossing between the Israeli and Palestinian sides. Thomas talks to Colombian philosopher Oscar Guardiola-Rivera about his extreme rambling along – and inside – this border.
18.00 – 18.45
GREAT Women
Mariella Frostrup talks to Marie Colvin about her life as Britain’s foremost female correspondent and with Petina Gappah about the empowerment of women in Africa.
Mariella Frostrup in conversation with Times war correspondent Marie Colvin about her experience in Libya, Sri Lanka and beyond. Mariella’s foundation, The Gender Rights and Equality Action Trust (The GREAT Initiative) aims at fostering gender equality and raising awareness and funds to support the grass roots gender equality projects in Africa and beyond, and she discusses the aims of her foundation and empowerment of African women with Zimbabwean writer & lawyer Petina Gappah.
