The Edinburgh International Book Festival launched its 2011 programme today, promising a diverse collection of events exploring the newest chapter in our history.  This year’s festival sees the return of the debut authors’ award, a second year of late night Unbound events and a world premiere.

Nick Barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival said: “In this, the year that the new Europe comes of age, popular uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East are challenging life long regimes and the world is in a state of change, we will examine the theme of Revolution. 

“From Libya to China, India to Iran, the USA ten years after 9/11 and the recent controversies involving Twitter and Wikileaks, audiences and authors in Charlotte Square Gardens will explore the power of the written word to provide a compelling commentary on the world around us.

“We will also be celebrating some legends of modern literature.  2011 sees the centenary of the birth of two great poets from opposite ends of Europe - Sorley MacLean and Czeslaw Milosz - and thirty years since the publication of Alasdair Gray’s Lanark. 

“We are delighted that Alasdair will be joining us, not only to open the Book Festival but also on the final evening with a full-length performed reading of his latest work, Fleck, in what is perhaps the most ambitious event we have ever attempted:  a world premiere featuring a stellar cast including Liz Lochhead, Will Self, A L Kennedy, Ian Rankin and Alasdair himself.”

Four Guest Selectors have tasked with curating individual strands of the programme.  BBC Special Correspondent Allan Little, who has reported from almost every international conflict in the last 20 years, will explore Revolution in the 21st Century.

Audrey Niffenegger, along with Chris Adrian, Neil Gaiman and Kelly Link, will be examining Writing Without Boundaries. Joan Bakewell will investigate Key Ideas of the 21st Century with a selection of renowned speakers including Michael Symmons Roberts, Julian Baggini, Olivia Laing and Ian Stewart.  

The new Children’s Laureate, Julia Donaldson MBE, is the Guest Selector for the RBS Children’s Programme in 2011 and will explore new ways to engage children in books and reading, as well as looking at the importance of illustration.

The Children’s Programme has also been re-imagined to reflect this year’s theme of change and the way we view stories around us. Old classics, such as the Canterbury Tales, will be examined from a different perspective in the hopes of illuminating them in a new way.

Janet Smyth, Director of the RBS Children’s Programme, said: “This year we are delighted to have the new Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson MBE as Guest Selector; and her events reflect the scope of the programme as a whole and involve illustration, drama, song, debate and plenty of interaction.

“Nick Sharratt will undoubtedly draw a big crowd as our Illustrator in Residence and our ‘re-imagination and reflection’ theme involves authors revisiting favourite tales from Twelfth Night to Tarzan.

“We welcome authors from Scotland and from abroad, including Australian Oscar winner Shaun Tan, to talk, draw, sing and inspire young readers of all ages.”

The 17-day run is packed with almost 800 authors form over 40 countries across the globe. This year sees the returns of The First Book Award, encouraging audiences to discover the Man Booker Prize winners or Nobel Laureates of the future.

In addition to The First Book Award, three major literary prizes will be bestowed at the festival. Edwin Morgan International Poetry Prize will take place on the first anniversary of the poet’s death on Wednesday August 17. The James Tait Black Prize, the world’s oldest literary prize, will take place on Friday August 19, and for the first time, the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book of the Year Award, in partnership with Creative Scotland, will be awarded in Charlotte Square Gardens on Friday August 26.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said: “The Edinburgh International Book Festival has long been a highlight in the Edinburgh Festivals’ calendar, bringing together some of the world's finest authors and the best of contemporary Scottish talent.

“This year's programme is sure to intrigue and delight audiences as well as raising Scotland's cultural profile on the international stage."