{"id":926381,"date":"2026-04-29T13:14:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T13:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/926381\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T13:14:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T13:14:19","slug":"douglas-stuart-among-the-stars-appearing-at-this-years-edinburgh-international-book-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/926381\/","title":{"rendered":"Douglas Stuart among the stars appearing at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE EDINBURGH International Book Festival<\/a>\u00a0has announced the Front List<\/a> for the upcoming festival in August, with Douglas Stuart, author of the Booker Prize-winning Shuggie Bain, and 2022 novel Young Mungo, among the authors booked in.<\/p>\n

Diana Gabaldon and Colson Whitehead<\/a> are\u00a0among the\u00a0other literary\u00a0stars set to appear at the festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The programme, running from August 17 to 30 at McEwan Hall<\/a> and presented in partnership with Underbelly, brings together 15 headline events spanning fiction, journalism,\u00a0history\u00a0and performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gabaldon will mark the 35th anniversary of Outlander, <\/a>the novel credited,\u00a0alongside its TV adaptation,\u00a0with transforming Scotland\u2019s tourism industry and screen sector.<\/p>\n

\"Douglas<\/a>Douglas Stuart has carved out a space as one of Scotland\u2019s leading literary voices with novels like Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo (C) Douglas Stuart<\/p>\n

Whitehead, whose novel The Underground Railroad won the Pulitzer Prize, will discuss race,\u00a0history\u00a0and the moral responsibilities of storytelling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stuart, whose debut Shuggie Bain took the Booker Prize, will appear in conversation with poet and former Scots Makar Jackie Kay.\u00a0<\/p>\n

BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet will reflect on decades reporting from conflict zones, while journalists Lewis Goodall and Edward Wong examine the increasingly strained US-UK special relationship under President Trump.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and writer Cory Doctorow will open the series with a discussion about who holds power online and whether the internet\u2019s early spirit of public-minded optimism can be revived.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Colson<\/a>Colson Whitehead is the author of nine novels, including his 1999 debut The Intuitionist The Underground Railroad (2016), and The Nickel Boys (2020) (C) Michael Lionstar<\/p>\n

Crime writer Val McDermid and Geographer Royal for Scotland, Jo Sharp, will discuss their retelling of the Darien scheme\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Scotland\u2019s catastrophic 17th-century attempt to\u00a0establish\u00a0a colony in Panama\u00a0\u2013\u00a0chaired by broadcaster Allan Little.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Historian and podcaster, Tom Holland, will explore the enduring fascination with Roman emperors, while David Olusoga will deliver the Frederick Hood Memorial Lecture on empire and Britain\u2019s contested past.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The series also features Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai, returning with her first work of fiction in 20 years, as well as novelist and public intellectual Elif Shafak and American author Ann Patchett.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Poet,\u00a0novelist\u00a0and musician, Kae Tempest ,will discuss language,\u00a0identity\u00a0and creativity, while Charlie Mackesy,\u00a0author of the Academy Award-winning\u00a0The\u00a0Boy, the Mole, the\u00a0Fox\u00a0and the Horse,\u00a0appears in a family-friendly event.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Diana<\/a>Diana Gabaldon is known for the Outlander series of fantasy novels (C) Barbara Schell<\/p>\n

TV presenter, Mel Giedroyc, will be joined by Sue Perkins to discuss her new novel The Comeback.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the festival described their approach to curating the front list: \u201cAt a moment when public debate can often feel polarised or diminished, The Front List reflects the\u00a0Festival\u2019s\u00a0belief in the value of open,\u00a0inspiring\u00a0and nuanced conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBringing together readers and audiences with some of the most compelling voices of our time, the series underscores the Edinburgh International Book Festival\u2019s position as one of the world\u2019s leading forums for literature,\u00a0ideas\u00a0and public exchange.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tickets go on sale to Book Festival members at 10am on Wednesday and to the public from 10am on 5 May. Full details at edbookfest.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

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