Life after politics top of agenda for post-election Scottish book festival as line-up unveiled
The book festival will take place in June
Veteran politicians are to headline this year’s Borders Book Festival as former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former chancellor Sir Jeremy Hunt are in the line-up.
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon will make her first public appearance after the Holyrood election in conversation with Gavin Esler, while Kate Forbes, who also left Holyrood last month, will reflect on Scottish politics in her new role as observer rather than participant.
Meanwhile, Scottish businessman Sir Tom Hunter and Chris O’ Shea, chief executive of the energy giant, Centrica, owner of Scottish Gas, is to talk to Stephen Jardine about how business and philanthropy can bring about change in the social and economic worlds and how everyone can contribute by being “better citizens”.
The festival, in Melrose’s Harmony Garden - the garden of National Trust for Scotland property Harmony Hall - will run from 11 to 14 June.
Poet Pam Ayres is to speak at the festival, as will British Women’s Curling gold medallist Eve Muirhead, who will discuss her journey to becoming one of Scotland’s greatest athletes.
The prestigious Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is awarded during the opening evening of the Festival, with five shortlisted international literary talents hoping to secure the £25,000 prize. The shortlisted authors are: Jo Harkin for The Pretender; Alice Jolly for The Matchbox Girl; Graeme Macrae Burnet for Benbecula; Rachel Seiffert for Once the Deed is Done; and Benjamin Wood for Seascraper.
Festival directors Alistair Moffat and Paula Ogilvie said: “It’s that time of the year again, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome you all back to our beloved Harmony Garden, spiritual home of the Book Festival that is so close to all our hearts.
“Never more than now have we needed a reason to gather, to celebrate our shared friendships, to debate, to ponder, and to try to see a way through the chaos of our world.”
They added: “The Borders Book Festival will this year offer, as it always does, a space to escape our daily lives (and rolling news) for a short time and to reconnect with all those things that bring joy and humour, a sense of calm, fun and joie de vivre.
“But it also – vitally – offers myriad opportunities to hear some of the best minds on the planet ponder the crises of our modern world and discuss the ways in which we, as individuals – any of us and all of us – can make a difference and use our own personal agency for good.”
Rebecca Edser, head of EventScotland, said: “We’re pleased to be supporting Borders Book Festival through our National Events Programme, as part of Scotland’s diverse portfolio of events and festivals. The Festival is a staple in the events calendar and hugely popular with visitors to the South of Scotland.
“By enabling organisers to deliver well‑designed and impactful events, we are helping ensure events continue to make a positive contribution to both the local community and the wider visitor economy.”
Tickets are now available here.
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