Outstanding journalist and presenter Jonathan Dimbleby travelled thousands of miles to get to the heart of modern Russia. In this absorbing and often moving event from 2008, he gives unique insight into a vast land in transition.

Passionately dedicated to politics and to ordinary people, Tony Benn is a highly engaging speaker. He speaks in this 2008 event about his warm, funny, feisty diaries which record his trenchant views on the political landscape of the past seven years.

A magnificently intelligent essayist, novelist, critic, and a mesmerising speaker. Andrew O'Hagan talks to Magnus Linklater in this 2008 event about politics, Scotland and his recent collection of reportage on a declining Britain and a rising America, The Atlantic Ocean. An event filled with personal insight.

Man Booker winner and one of the finest Irish writers, Anne Enright brings to life her intensely poetic writing, focussing on her new collection of stories Taking Pictures in this 2008 event.

The finest contemporary Scottish writing commissioned especially by the festival. We asked four of our most highly acclaimed writers (John Burnside, Janice Galloway, A L Kennedy and Don Paterson) to create new work - poetry and prose - for this 2008 event. And what a fantastic showcase it was.

An hour of pure pleasure with multi-talented poet, playwright, novelist, storywriter, children's author and broadcaster, Jackie Kay. In this 2008 event she discusses her latest collection of poetry Darling, which gets to the heart of love with exquisite literary skill.

Michelle Magorian's debut novel Goodnight Mister Tom has become a children's classic. In this 2008 event Michelle gives an exclusive look at her first book in ten years, Just Henry, a gripping mystery-thriller for children of 10 and upwards.

His mad wit is reminiscent of Roald Dahl and Monty Python and his crazy events are loved by children. In this 2008 event for 7 - 12 year olds, Andy Stanton gives an exclusive preview of his latest adventure, Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear.

One of the most distinctive and fearless writers in Britain, Hanif Kureishi has been a major and vital presence since Buddha of Suburbia. Sex, middle-age, love, longing, race, regret and psychoanalysis are all wholly present in his latest novel, Something to Tell You, which he discusses in this 2008 event.

Acclaimed Scottish novelist and hugely entertaining speaker, Christopher Brookmyre talks in this 2008 event about his latest book, A Snowball in Hell, which takes celebrity culture and turns it on its head.