Borders Book Festival - where words come alive

What is it all about? In an incredibly short time the Borders Book Festival has established itself as one of Scotland's premiere literary events..

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 had rocketed to more than 5,000.

2010 will be the seventh time that the festival has hung up it's shingle and it will no doubt be experiencing some of the many challenges that arrive at the magic seventh year of being. At this stage, it looks as if the organisers have pulled it off with just enough big names to create a stir without breaking the budget and sufficient to attract a crowd.

Who? 2010 - 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 More

Where? Harmony House, Melrose, Scotland | AA Route Planner

When? June 17-20, 2010

Programme? Download 2010 Programme (4.10mb)

How much? Previous years £6-£12 (children £4) -

Festival Web Site: www.bordersbookfestival.org

Past Festivals? 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 and more