Edinburgh International Book Festival 2010 Edinburgh International Book Festival

Scotland is seeking to become a world leader in renewable energy, while the arguments continue to rage about oil, 'cleaner coal' and nuclear power. How do we provide fuel for the world without destroying it in the process, and can Scotland really be a key player? In this event - part our popular debates and environment strand in 2010 - our panel discuss the options. Featuring former MSP and Professor of Social Change at Queen Margaret University, Susan Deacon; Dr Benny Peiser, Director of The Global Warming Policy Foundation; Duncan McLaren and chair Ruth Wishart.

The celebrated Fay Weldon and the superb Fatima Bhutto captivated Book Festival audiences in this 2010 event chaired by Ruth Padel. Despite their widely different backgrounds, both Fay Weldon and Fatima Bhutto share the way in which a parent’s loss affected their understanding of the world.

On Monday 16 August, a gentleman came to the Information Desk to return his earpiece unused. "I didn't need it", he explained; "I've just been to the Simon Callow event!" Sure enough, beloved actor Simon Callow filled our RBS Main Theatre with his legendary eloquence in a sold out event you now have a chance to listen to here on the website.

Legendary writer Jeanette Winterson inspired her audience with tremendous charm on 16 August, speaking movingly of happiness and the pursuit thereof. This brilliant event was full of intelligent questions from the audience and great energy from Winterson herself. When she attended her photocall, the Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit writer proceeded to throw oranges at the photographers!

We welcomed Britain's Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy to the Book Festival in 2010 for three remarkable events. In this beautifully-received event she read new work from The Bees which will be published in 2011, and was joined by chair Don Paterson and musician John Sampson.

Christos Tsiolkas flew all the way to Edinburgh from his home in Australia to open the 2010 Edinburgh International Book Festival in fine literary style. In a sold-out event chaired by Steven Gale, he discussed his much talked-about best-selling novel The Slap to a spellbound audience.