THE STATE OF THE WORLD 10 YEARS ON: FOR BETTER FOR WORSE

How has the world changed in the decade since the first Portobello Book Festival in 2009?  What are the prospects for the next decade?  Three distinguished University of Edinburgh academics address these questions in their different and distinctive ways: Sian Bayne, Professor of Digital Education, Jill MacKay, Research Fellow in Veterinary Medical Education, and Donald Bloxham, Professor of History.

Chair: Ian Martin

Sunday 7th October 5.00-6.30pm                                                         LIBRARY UPSTAIRS

Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.

ST KILDA: A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Alex Boyd’s St Kilda: The Silent Islands is a stark and reflective collection of photographs that capture the archipelago of St Kilda in a new light. They show the reality of the crumbling military base as well as the wild beauty of the natural landscape. He is joined by composer Jessica Danz who is working on a new composition focusing on the largely unknown and ill-fated 1852 migration of 42 islanders to Australia. 

Chair: Jim Gilchrist

Sunday 7th October 3.30-4.30pm                                                            LIBRARY UPSTAIRS

Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.

THE TIMES ON CINEMA

Brian Pendreigh, local journalist and freelance film correspondent, has had a lifetime fascination with film. He has authored many books, guides and reviews for papers such as the Scotsman, Herald, Times and Guardian. Brian shares stories of meeting famous film stars, the Oscars and discusses his latest book The Times on Cinema.

Chair: Peter E. Ross

Sunday 7th October 3.30-4.30pm                                                 LIBRARY DOWNSTAIRS

Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.

With just ten days to go until the 10th Portobello Book Festival begins, now is the time to get along to the library to pick up your free tickets if you haven’t already.

The good news? There are still some tickets left! Among other events with tickets still available, you could come to hear:

Local author Doug Johnstone talk about his Desert Island Books on Saturday at 11am in the Baptist Church Hall.

Three short story writers, Elle Turner, Jane Tulloch and Rosemary Gemmell, chatting about the art of crafting an effective story in a shorter form – Saturday 12.30pm upstairs in the library.

Steve Harvey discussing World Poetry at 1pm on Saturday in the Baptist Church Hall with poets Stuart A Paterson, Marjorie Lotfi Gill and Lynn Davidson.

Stephanie Nimmo’s inspiring book Was This In The Plan is the focus of her discussion with Lisa Hardie – Saturday 4pm at the Baptist Church Hall.

Or how about Celebrating 40 Years of Amnesty in Portobello? Hear from members of the group as they talk about their campaigning work during those 40 years. Sunday 12.30pm upstairs in the library.

The bad news? Tickets for quite a few of the events have already gone. Although remember, there are a few spare available just before each event (with the exception of the writing workshop) so it’s always worth coming along just in case you can get in.

Remember that the roadworks on Brighton Place will have begun by the time the festival is on and it will be closed from Bath Street to Lee Crescent. This will no doubt have an effect on parking too so plan ahead. You can still get the 21, 26, 45 and 124 buses to Portobello but the 42, 49 and 69 are being diverted and will not serve Portobello High Street. (The 21 will only be stopping at its usual stops from Kings Road to Portobello Police Station/Town Hall then is on a non stop diversion until it rejoins its usual route.)

Look forward to seeing you next week!

FACING THE NATION: THE PORTRAITURE OF ALEXANDER MOFFAT

Alexander Moffat is one of Scotland’s foremost painters. The paintings Poets’ Pub and the portrait of Muriel Spark in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery are two fine examples of his work. Here he is in conversation with Bill Hare, author of Facing the Nation: The Portraiture of Alexander Moffat.

Sunday 7th October,  2.00-3.00pm                                                          LIBRARY UPSTAIRS

Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.

A WEE BIRD WAS WATCHING…

This exquisite retelling of a folk tale of how the robin got its red breast is a collaboration between acclaimed artist Kate Leiper and renowned singer/songwriter Karine Polwart.  Kate’s work has featured in major collections of Scottish folk and fairy tales, including Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales and Book of the Howlat, whilst Karine’s latest album Wind Resistance was voted Best Music and Sound entry at Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2017.

Chair: Jane Meagher

Sunday 7th October 2.00-3.00pm                                                     LIBRARY DOWNSTAIRS 

Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.

MEET THE AUTHOR:  ISLA DEWAR

Isla Dewar is a prolific and successful novelist. In this session she shares an insight into her work and introduces her latest novel It Takes One to Know One, set in a missing persons bureau right here in Portobello.

Chair: Anne Gilchrist

Sunday 7th October 12.30-1.30pm                                                    LIBRARY DOWNSTAIRS

Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF AMNESTY IN PORTOBELLO

Members of the Portobello branch of Amnesty International, the world’s leading human rights organisation, talk about their work and campaigning activities.  They also read from the writings of prisoners of conscience incarcerated in different parts of the world.

Sunday 7th October 12.30-1.30pm                                                          LIBRARY UPSTAIRS

Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.

NO PLACE FOR A WOMAN

Sara Sheridan and Alex Nye talk about their recent historical novels’ exploration of women overturning expectations of their gender, in 19th century Antarctica, The Ice Maiden, and at the court of Mary Stuart, For My Sins. 

Chair: Sheila Averbuch

Sunday 7th October 11.00am-12.00noon                         LIBRARY DOWNSTAIRS 

Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.

1001 OLIVE TREES: TALES OF RESISTANCE

This is the title of a book by San Ghanny (We shall sing in Arabic), a Scottish choir sharing songs and stories from their visits to Palestine, celebrating the strength, dignity and non-violent resistance of people living under Occupation.

Sunday 7th October 11.00am-12.00noon                                               LIBRARY UPSTAIRS

Tickets for all Portobello Book Festival events are free and can be picked up from Portobello Library in Rosefield Avenue.