NICOLA Sturgeon, Chelsea Clinton and Jeremy Corbyn will take part in events at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF).
The Labour leader and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis will discuss “whether the current form of globalised capitalism is forcing democracy towards its ultimate demise”.
The First Minister, a regular at the festival, will be in conversation with author Ali Smith in a festival strand named Women Talking and Clinton will discuss inspiring women and children.
Nelson Mandela’s daughter Zindzi and great-grandchildren Zazi and Ziwelene will discuss his life and legacy in a talk marking the 100th anniversary of his birth. The same anniversary for Muriel Spark will be marked by a series of theatre shows and events. More than 50 writers from around the world have also been commissioned by festival organisers to write essays on freedoms around topics such as race, religion, sexuality and immigration to form the basis of discussions.
Other authors appearing at the festival include Philip Pullman, Judith Kerr, David Walliams, Sir Chris Hoy, Julia Donaldson and Harry Hill.
EIBF director Nick Barley said: “The festival is an unbeatable place for meeting inspiring people and sharing big ideas.
“This year’s programme brings together writers whose experiences will truly change our way of looking at the world: from the emerging Rwandan-Burundian superstar Gael Faye to the legend of Kenyan writing Ngugi wa Thiong’o.”
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