Nicola Sturgeon, the former First Minister of Scotland, is set to launch her highly anticipated memoir, Frankly, at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August 14.
The memoir release is part of an expanded series called The Front List, which will run from August 12 to August 24 at McEwan Hall, adjacent to the main venue, the Edinburgh Futures Institute. The festival has unveiled a star-studded line-up of speakers for the series, including acclaimed writers Maggie O’Farrell and Ian McEwan, as well as Ruth Jones, co-creator and writer of Gavin and Stacey, who will discuss her new novel By Your Side.
Also featured in the lineup are prominent authors such as RF Kuang, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Asako Yuzuki, the 2024 Waterstones Book of the Year winner. Football legend Ally McCoist will also take the stage to discuss his book Dear Scotland: On The Road With The Tartan Army.
In addition to the literary figures, Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, will offer political insights, joined by renowned writers such as Ta-Nehisi Coates, Anne Applebaum, and Edward Wong, a diplomatic correspondent at the New York Times.
More than 600 events will be announced on June 10, with participants hailing from across the globe, including the United States, Japan, Russia, Nigeria, and the UK.
A spokesperson for the festival expressed excitement about Sturgeon’s memoir launch, describing it as a significant moment for the event. “We are thrilled to be launching Frankly, the memoir of Scotland’s first female and longest-serving first minister, as Nicola Sturgeon shares the story of her journey from shy, working-class child to one of our country’s most influential political leaders.”
The festival will also feature insightful discussions on world affairs. Anne Applebaum and Edward Wong will explore recent political shifts and assess whether democracy can ever truly be safeguarded in the modern world. Yulia Navalnaya, who has been a vocal advocate for her late husband’s cause, will discuss his activism and the ongoing work he inspired.
Jenny Niven, the festival’s director and CEO, emphasized the diverse range of voices at the event, from political commentators to celebrated authors. “At this challenging moment in history and politics, we will offer a critical eye on international affairs and the opportunity to escape them through the works of some of the world’s foremost fiction writers, entertainment, and sporting figures,” she said.
