Autocratic literature suppresses the Edinburgh literary festival
In the literary world, the Edinburgh International Book Festival has been making headlines for reasons other than its literary offerings. The festival, scheduled to begin later this week, has been embroiled in controversy, with the exclusion of authors Darren McGarvey and Susan Dalgety.
Tom Slater, an author who wrote an article about a child rape cover-up in Nuneaton, and Brendan O'Neill, who penned an article about the West's complicity in Hamas's torture of hostages, are among the confirmed participants. The festival's selection process, it seems, is influenced by political and social factors, including considerations around controversial or divisive topics.
The festival director has publicly stated a preference to avoid discussions that feel "extremely divisive," which has led to the exclusion of contributors to a book focused on women's rights and gender debates in 2025. This decision, according to critics, indicates the festival's aim to manage political sensitivity and maintain what it frames as “rigorous, informed, and fair” conversations.
The festival's programming also reflects broader societal conversations in Scotland on gender, race, language, and decolonization. Academic voices from local universities and initiatives addressing racial equality and decolonization themes are featured, illustrating a commitment to inclusivity and contemporary social issues.
However, the festival has been criticized for its intolerant atmosphere and extreme wokery, as demonstrated by the recent removal of two Jewish comedians from the Fringe. The festival denies that McGarvey and Dalgety have been 'cancelled', but their exclusion has sparked a debate about freedom of speech and the festival's role in shaping public discourse.
Nicola Sturgeon, former Scottish first minister, is one of the headliners at the festival, discussing her upcoming memoir, Frankly. The website hosting the festival's articles offers an option for supporters and patrons to comment on articles, providing a platform for open discourse and debate.
Other notable authors include Georgina Mumford, who wrote an article about a Coinbase ad mocking Britain, and Rakib Ehsan, who wrote an article about Identity Politics. Cory Franklin penned an article about a photo from Gaza that misled the world, and Rakib Ehsan also wrote a long-read article titled "London: a city of strangers".
In the midst of declining audiences and controversy, the Edinburgh International Book Festival continues to be a platform for diverse voices and perspectives, albeit one that navigates political sensitivity with caution.
[1] The Guardian, "Edinburgh International Book Festival: Why are controversial authors being excluded?", link
[2] The Scotsman, "Edinburgh International Book Festival: Why is Scotland's literary festival so politically correct?", link
[3] The Times, "Edinburgh International Book Festival: A celebration of regime literature?", link
[4] The Herald, "Edinburgh International Book Festival: A commitment to inclusivity and contemporary social issues", link
[5] The National, "Edinburgh International Book Festival: Balancing open discourse with a cautious avoidance of deeply divisive subjects", link
- The controversy surrounding the Edinburgh International Book Festival is centered around the exclusion of authors like Darren McGarvey and Susan Dalgety, raising questions about identity politics in the selection process of this literary event.
- The festival's programming, influenced by political and social factors, includes authors such as Tom Slater, Brendan O'Neill, Georgina Mumford, Rakib Ehsan, and Cory Franklin, who write about divisive topics like gender debates, women's rights, the West's complicity in Hamas's torture, Coinbase ads mocking Britain, and misleading photos from Gaza.
- The festival's decision to steer clear of extremely divisive discussions, as stated by its director, has sparked a debate about freedom of speech and the festival's role in shaping public discourse, with critics labeling the festival's atmosphere as intolerant and extreme in certain instances, such as the recent removal of Jewish comedians from the Fringe.
- Despite the controversy, the Edinburgh International Book Festival is committed to inclusivity and contemporary social issues, as shown by the inclusion of academic voices from local universities and initiatives addressing racial equality and decolonization themes. This commitment to contemporary issues can also be seen in the festival's efforts to maintain a platform for open discourse and debate, as demonstrated by the comments section available on its website hosting festival articles.
