The Borders Book Festival claims to be one of Scotland's premier literary events, with some justification. The first time the Book Festival was staged, in 2004, it was little more than a pilot. Four authors came to the Wynd Theatre and fewer than 300 people came to listen to them, filling almost every seat in the tiny auditorium.
By 2007 the festival had moved to Harmony House and Garden, the National Trust for Scotland's stunning Georgian property in Melrose, and audiences rocketed to more than 5,000 and have been growing ever since.
When? 16th – 19th of June, 2016
Where? Harmony House, Melrose, Scotland
Who? 2016 - A packed programme of events for all – Jonathan Dimbleby will talk about a wonderful new book, Evelyn Glennie, the world’s greatest percussionist performs a groundbreaking new work, Sara Pascoe will make us laugh when she talks about her new book Animal, and hours before lockdown, the great Phill Jupitus finds a Melrose-sized gap in his diary and he will join us in the magic garden at Harmony House in Melrose. Gregor Fisher and Frederick Forsyth will be there with their new autobiographies. The European Union referendum happens only 4 days after the festival and the debate will have contributions from Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg, Jim Sillars and Michael Forsyth. And there will be loads more tremendous events and sessions
Programme? www.bordersbookfestival.org
How much? Previous years £6-£12 (children £4) -
Festival Web Site: www.bordersbookfestival.org
Twitter? @BordersBookFest
Facebook? Yes
Festival Director? 2015 - Alistair Moffat
Past Festivals?
2015 Patricia Hodge, Celia Imrie, Andrew Marr, Jonathan Miller, Dom Joly, Michelle Mone, Terry Waite, Rory Bremner, John Sessions, John Bird, Patricia Hodge.
Politicians Alex Salmond and Gordon Brown are also included in the line-up, as well as regulars like James Naughtie, Peter Snow and Rory Bremner.
2014 - Kate Adie, Eleanor Catton, Kate Atkinson, Andrew Greig, Robert Harrris, Simon Mayo ++
IN 2013 - Simon Scarrow, Alexander McCall Smith, William McIlvanney, Kate Mosse–
Previous - Sir David Frost, Jeremy Vine, Hilary Mantel, Kirsty Wark, Iain Banks
Rory Bremner, William Boyd, Kathy Lette, Ian Rankin, Francesca Simon, Michael Parkinson, Val McDermid, Josceline Dimbleby, Alexander McCall Smith, Tom Conti, Sarah Brown Joan Bakewell, James Kelman, Hardeep Singh Kohli, Gervase Phinn, Michael Palin, Jackie Kay, Charles MacLean,James Robertson, James Naughtie, Tom Holland, Alistair Moffat, Diana Athill, Tom Pow, Fiona Houston, Julia Donaldson, Vince Cable, Conor Woodman, Bill Paterson, Christopher Lloyd, Allan Cameron, JAMES NAUGHTIE, DOROTHY ROWE, WILLIAM FIENNES, KATE ADIE, KATHY LETTE, HILARY MANTEL, MICHAEL MORPURGO, VICTORIA WOOD, JOHN LLOYD & RORY BREMNER, SHIRLEY WILLIAMS, JACKIE KAY, ROBERT HARRIS, FERGAL KEANE, BRIAN JOHNSTONE & RON BUTLIN.
If you are involved in this festival you can update or change details via the organisers page . Authors can list here.
