2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival

Stieg Larsson’s books have sold more than 20 million copies in 41 countries. But because they were published after his death, many have been left wondering about the true character of a man who was as passionate in his campaign against Swedish neo-Nazism as he was about writing. In this event, recorded live at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival, Kurdo Baksi – a former colleague and the author of a new biography of Larsson – explains why the complex, dogmatic writer was ‘both a dream and a nightmare to work with’.

The reissue of his early novels as Penguin Classics in 2011 underlines his status as a giant of American literary postmodernism. Stories like Spanking the Maid, Gerald's Party and Pricksongs and Descants show that a mordant – and morbid – humour are part of his genius. One former student described Coover as 'the most generous, rabidly intelligent, accessible, erudite and hilarious teacher I have ever met.' Another said 'Coover is flame retardant'. Recorded live, in conversation with Scotland's own literary firebrand Stuart Kelly, at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Michigan-born writer and artist, Audrey Niffenegger is the author of the runaway bestseller The Time Traveler’s Wife. In this event she chats to Stuart Kelly about her various books, the most recent of which is a graphic novel, The Night Bookmobile. The novel uses Niffenegger’s Chicago base as a backdrop to the tale of a woman who stumbles upon a magical mobile library which reflects her own reading tastes to the letter. But when the bookmobile finally moves on to the next destination, she becomes obsessive and haunted. This event was recorded live at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival.

His last book was adapted to become The Social Network, one of the most successful movies of 2010. Mezrich then turned his attention to another strange-but-true American tale in his novel Sex on the Moon. Back in 2002, a gifted former NASA intern and his girlfriend set out to steal a safe containing moon rocks from every Apollo mission. In this event, recorded live at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival, he explains to Decca Aitkenhead how he reimagined the story of a real life heist

The former director general of MI5 has forged a new career for herself as an author of spy novels, using her inside knowledge of intelligence activities to create a credible new hero, Liz Carlyle. Rimington’s first ever visit to the Book Festival in 2011 coincided with her role as chair of the Man Booker Prize judging panel, and in this event she shares her own new novel as well as some thoughts about the world of fiction in general with Ruth Wishart. Recorded live at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival.

The death of Osama bin Laden in May 2011 marked a key moment in the history of the so-called War on Terror. But Michael Scheuer, formerly the chief of the CIA unit responsible for capturing the elusive Saudi, believes bin Laden’s death will make no difference. Incandescent at ‘pro-terrorist’ US foreign policies, he argues that while bin Laden was an icon and a strategic genius, al Qaeda’s next generation will be less visible and more violent. Scheuer’s hawkish views can be shocking: he believes militant Islamism is a violent enemy that the US must hold at bay. But his analysis of bin Laden’s power is unusual and intriguing. In this event, recorded live at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival, he talks candidly to Ruth Wishart.

When you hear that a book by a renowned journalist and broadcaster is subtitled ‘Time Spent Following a Lead’, you might assume it’s a memoir concerning the pursuit of headlines. But Diary of a Dog Walker is in fact Stourton’s tale/tail of going out with his pooch (the delightful Kudu) and the questions it inevitably raises: Do dogs perceive ownership as we do? How devoted is your canine? And why are they a symbol of depression (thanks Winston) when so much of the time they cheer us up? In this event, recorded live at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival, he talks to Ruth Wishart.

Since its publication in 1611, the King James Bible has been the world’s number one bestseller. But the book has become a story in itself. It has been the Bible of wars from the British Civil War to the American Civil War and it played a part in social movements such as the abolition of slavery as well as defining attitudes to modern science, education and sex. Melvyn Bragg, in this event recorded live at the 2011 Edinburgh International Book Festival, charts a remarkable history. In conversation with Nick Barley.

Are we living through the dying embers of Western ascendancy? For Scottish historian and broadcaster Niall Ferguson, the ‘killer applications’ test is the best way to measure our status with the rest of the world. So, how are we doing when it comes to science, democracy, medicine, consumerism and the work ethic? Not so well, he reckons. Civilization takes us on an extraordinary journey from Nanjing to Namibia, for a story of sailboats, missiles, vaccines, blue jeans and Chinese bibles. Niall Ferguson explains all to Iain Macwhirter in this hour-long event, recorded live at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

There can be few backbench politicians who have had as much influence on British politics as Tam Dalyell. Fiercely independent and a thorn in the side of several Prime Ministers, his contributions to politics include his vocal opposition to military intervention in the Falklands and Iraq, as well as his 'West Lothian question' about partial Scottish and Welsh devolution. Here Dalyell discusses his extraordinary life with BBC broadcaster James Naughtie in an event recorded live at Edinburgh International Book Festival.