Edinburgh is truly a Festival City - home to nine summer festivals. We've pulled together some of the literary highlights taking place in summer 2009 across the Edinburgh Festivals for you.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival August programme features 750 authors, poets and storytellers from 45 countries in the city's Charlotte Square Gardens.
There are dozens of events with literary links at the Fringe, so we've picked out a few below with strong Edinburgh links.
The Sound of My Voice - an adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Edinburgh's Makar, Ron Butlin.
Underword is a new, free series of spoken word nights, each with a different theme, from cover versions and open mic sessions to new writing and a night of Dirty Words - see the full listings.
Blackwell Bookshop is holding a Writers at the Fringe night every Thursday, full of poetry and drama, folk music and fiction - see the programme.
The Girls of Slender Means - adaptation of Muriel Spark's novel.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - adaptation of Muriel Spark's classic Edinburgh-set novel.
Cafe Cadenza - cabaret night with music and poetry from some of our finest poets, including Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.
Bletherheads - spoken word night from fine Scottish authors, hosted by Alan Bissett.
West Port Book Festival
The West Port is Edinburgh’s Soho, a heady mix of booze, bosoms, bespoke tailoring and books. The Festival runs across 11 wonderful West Port venues, ranging from singular second-hand bookshops to crisp art spaces and whisky-scented pubs.
Edinburgh Book Fringe
The Book Fringe features local authors and international writers visiting Edinburgh for the Festival season - your chance to see for free many of the authors appearing as part of Edinburgh International Book Festival, in an intimate and independent bookshop environment.
Story Shop
A series for new, emerging writers to read their work at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Each day features one author, giving them a ten minute slot to read either two 4-5 minute ‘flash fiction’ pieces or one 8-10 minute piece of fiction. The idea is to give a free taster of their writing to a new audience.