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Curtis Brown and ICM authors at Edinburgh International Book Festival 2012

August 10, 2012

This year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival features a number of Curtis Brown and ICM writers and authors, from Michael J. Sandel exploring The Moral Limits of Markets in a sold-out show; to Raja Shehadeh discussing the interplay between Politics and Playwriting in Palestine; the queen of culinary Edinburgh Mary Contini’s take on the perfect Italian sausage, through to award-winning young writer Gwendoline Riley introducing a new story about a novelist who relocated to America to escape a harrowing family history.

Nell Freudenberger features in the Rising Stars of American Literature series, chaired by Claire Armistead, the Guardian’s literary editor. Her new novel, The Newlyweds, has been one of the most anticipated books of the year. Gaby Hinsliff and Rachel Cusk discuss the task of balancing of demanding careers and family life in 21st Century Women, while S. J. Parris discusses the appeal of High Octane Historical Drama, with Stuart Clark. Elif Shafak, fresh from the international success of Honour, explores The Cross-Country Story of the Family.

Award-winning children’s writer Guy Bass will be putting on a hilarious and interactive show, combining comedy, chat and lots of books. Queen of teen, author Sarra Manning, will talk about Jeane, blogger, dreamer, queen of the jumble sale and star of her book Adorkable, at the Catwalk to Jumble Sales talk. Jennifer E. Smith will be talking about her most recent young adult book The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, asking whether a string of seemingly insignificant moments can amount to something important, like meeting your soul mate, inviting the audience to talk to them about secrets, love and life-changing moments.

Literary heavyweights Hari Kunzru and Howard Jacobson wrestle with the big questions impacting literature and publishing today, the former discussing Stories that Span Time and Space, while the latter asks whether It’s Time to Call Time on the Novel?

The Amnesty International Imprisoned Writers Series will put on a talk entitled Workers Rights are Human Rights, which discusses the changing role and challenges facing trade unionists around the world.