Edinburgh International Book Festival 2010

Scotland is seeking to become a world leader in renewable energy, while the arguments continue to rage about oil, 'cleaner coal' and nuclear power. How do we provide fuel for the world without destroying it in the process, and can Scotland really be a key player?

The celebrated Fay Weldon and the superb Fatima Bhutto captivated Book Festival audiences in this 2010 event chaired by Ruth Padel.

On Monday 16 August, a gentleman came to the Information Desk to return his earpiece unused. "I didn't need it", he explained; "I've just been to the Simon Callow event!"

Legendary writer Jeanette Winterson inspired her audience with tremendous charm on 16 August, speaking movingly of happiness and the pursuit thereof.

We welcomed Britain's Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy to the Book Festival in 2010 for three remarkable events. In this beautifully-received event she read new work from The Bees.

Christos Tsiolkas flew all the way to Edinburgh from his home in Australia to open the 2010 Edinburgh International Book Festival in fine literary style.

Chatting to chair Al Senter, the inimitable Nicholas Parsons showed that the oldest gameshow host ever still retains his famous ability to entertain.

On 15 August droves of enthusiastic fans were treated to a visit from American teen novel master John Green. In a stroke of genius he arranged a meet-up beforehand for the Edinburgh-based fans in his audience...!

The remarkable author of the Booker-winning Cloud Atlas sold out the Book Festival's biggest venue many weeks in advance. Talking to chair Steven Gale, he delighted festival audiences with his warmth and humour.

In a surprise Book Festival event announced after the 2010 programme went to print, A S Byatt charmed her substantial audience to the full.

A 2010 Book Festival event that will be talked about for some time to come. Nobel Prize-winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz, delivered a thought-provoking event with the words of a real insider.

A chance to hear the author of the book-turned-into-big-screen-hit How to Train your Dragon in her fantastic and wildly popular 2010 kids' event, ideal for ages 8 - 12.

We are delighted to offer you a chance to listen to celebrated Irish poet Seamus Heaney in his fantastic and extremely popular event with us in 2010.

August 2010 saw writer Andrew O'Hagan bring to the Book Festival an unforgettable tale of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and a dog called Maf.

Another chance to listen to two writers who have produced riveting, heartbreaking and sometimes shocking accounts of father-son relationships.

Listen to two unique writers as they look at love and trauma through a child's eyes. Emma Donoghue's Room and Fiona Shaw's Tell it to the Bees are two remarkable works.

In this event Joyce Carol Oates joined chair Jackie McGlone to discuss her two books published in 2010, both of which, in very different ways, involve young people coming to terms with their own sexuality.

Join Philippe Sands QC in his 2010 Book Festival event to learn why he believes the policy of abuse at Guantanamo Bay originated with Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and George W Bush.

In this event crime writing extraordinaire Reggie Nadelson discussed the ventures of her brilliantly believable detective, with Edinburgh’s own favourite crime writer, Ian Rankin.

Listen to this audio recording to join the audience of Roddy Doyle's fantastic 2010 Book Festival children’s event, ideal for ages 7+ and families.

In 2010, major new literary voice Tom McCarthy joined us in Edinburgh to launch his new book, C, in which McCarthy’s hero embarked on a strange, Pynchonesque journey across the 20th century.

In this event for 5-8 year olds, sensational Scottish children's author Mairi Hedderwick - and a firm favourite with younsters - brings her stories about Katie Morag and her magical Hebridean home to life.

Learn about the importance of visual literacy with a master creator of picture books. Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne led this 2010 CPD event as part of our 2010 RBS Schools Programme.

So what exactly did twelve years of undiluted New Labour achieve? Polly Toynbee and David Walker, co-authors of two previous books on the subject, returned to the Book Festival in 2010 with the definitive assessment of the Blair-Brown years.

Join Terry Lanagan, Executive Director of Educational Services at West Dunbartonshire Council as he explores a range of assessment methods and how they can be used within the Curriculum for Excellence.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Tove Jansson’s wonderful Moomin series, Sophia Jansson, the author’s niece, and an artist in her own right, talked with chair Julia Eccleshare about her aunt’s work and life, revealing what it was like to grow up surrounded by her extraordinary characters.

Canadian author Lisa Moore and Commonwealth Prize-winner Marina Endicott delivered with chair Luke Brown a captivating Book Festival event in 2010 to discuss their affecting explorations of life after death.

In 2010 Andrea Levy joined us for a captivating event to discuss The Long Song. Alongside chair Charlotte Higgins, Andrea Levy spoke of her striking new work to an eager audience.

Joined by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme presenter, James Naughtie, James Robertson discussed his epic novel, And the Land Lay Still, launching it to great enthusiasm at the 2010 Book Festival.

Two remarkable writers led an exceptional Book Festival event in 2010. Joined by chair Steven Gale, Michèle Roberts and Helen Simpson discussed their sharp and moving short story collections to great effect.

Eclectic Australian children's writer Simmone Howell joined us for a brilliant event for schools in 2010. Suitable for S2 - S6, she talked about place, people and invention in this fascinating and charming event.