International bestseller Ian Rankin headlines the 2019 Islay Book Festival next week with organisers gearing up for the biggest and most high-profile edition yet. The annual event, which has been switched from its previous slot at the end of September, runs from Thursday (Aug 29) to Sunday (Sep 1).
A well-known single malt fan, Rankin will be talking about how Islay’s iconic products have featured in his life and work to leading whisky writer Dave Broom in the Filling Store at Laphroaig Distillery on Friday.
That event has already sold out but there will be another chance to hear from the award-winning master of crime fiction at the Ramsay Hall on Saturday night.
There, Rankin will be talking about the huge changes that have taken place in the 30+ years of his most famous creation, Edinburgh detective John Rebus, in the company of leading historian Sir Tom Devine.
That is followed by a screening of Dave Broom and Adam Park’s acclaimed new whisky documentary “The Amber Light”, which looks at the connection between Scotland’s culture and its national drink. Both the Ramsay Hall events are backed by Diageo, this year’s lead sponsor of the book festival. Read more...