Edinburgh International Book Festival Themes: Women Behaving Badly
This August, we celebrate women who challenge and confront the social stigmas and residual legacies from centuries of patriarchal rule and chastisement.
About Edinburgh International Book Festival Themes: Women Behaving Badly
‘Maybe invite him to come up? No, too soon. You don’t think he’s a serial killer. That’s not it. It’s that you don’t want him to think you’re that kind of woman. The kind your mother warned you not to be.’ Writes Deesha Philyaw, in her fabulously feisty The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.
This August, we celebrate women who challenge and confront the social stigmas and residual legacies from centuries of patriarchal rule and chastisement. Who give voice to women’s desires and fears; hopes and pains – and put the experiences of women in plain sight. Who defy conventions and expectations, and rally against inequality and persecution, both past and present. Join us for some fearless and unbridled conversations.
Katherine Angel & Amia Srinivasan: The Politics of Sex
Saturday 13 August 16:30 - 17:30
Meg Mason: Femme Fatalistic
Sunday 14 August 15:45 - 16:45
Mieko Kawakami: Women’s Lives in Japan
Tuesday 16 August 12:15 - 13:15
Deesha Philyaw: Between Herself and God
Tuesday 16 August 18:15 - 19:15
Monica Ali: The Ties That Bind
Wednesday 17 August 14:30 - 15:30
Lizzy Stewart: The Female Gaze
Wednesday 17 August 18:15 - 19:15
Michèle Roberts: Three Women and the Artist Matisse
Thursday 18 August 15:30 - 16:30
Jenni Fagan: 'Geillis Duncan Has a Broomstick'
Thursday 18 August 16:00 - 17:00
Rosie Andrews & Francesca May: Seasons of the Witch
Friday 19 August 10:00 - 11:00
Laura Bates & Winnie M Li: Misogyny Laid Bare
Friday 19 August 14:30 - 15:30
Lynne Tillman: Snapshots of Truncated Love Affairs
Saturday 20 August 17:30 - 18:30
Joanne Harris & Margie Orford: Women in a Man’s World
Monday 22 August 11:30 - 12:30
Amy Liptrot: Traffic Islands Are for Lovers
Monday 22 August 19:00 - 20:00
Tessa Hadley & Charlotte Mendelson: The Process of Revealing
Tuesday 23 August 16:00 - 17:00
Siri Hustvedt: What Makes a Mother?
Tuesday 23 August 18:15 - 19:15
Hollie McNish & Joelle Taylor: Taboo-Busting Poets at Work
Tuesday 23 August 19:00 - 20:00
Sinéad Gleeson & Ottessa Moshfegh: A Woman's Music is Never Done
Wednesday 24 August 20:15 - 21:15
Lola Olufemi: Be the Change
Saturday 27 August 14:15 - 15:15
Julie Myerson & Guadalupe Nettel: The Inescapable Question of Motherhood
Monday 29 August 14:15 - 15:15
Maria Ressa: Democracy – Death by a Thousand Cuts?
Monday 29 August 16:00 - 17:00
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Sponsored Links
Other Events at Edinburgh College of Art or Edinburgh International Book Festival
Edinburgh International Book Festival
The 2025 Edinburgh International Book Festival returns from Saturday 9th to Sunday 24th August.
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Palace Page Turners
Many authors have been inspired to pick up their pen to write about the Palace of Holyroodhouse. These sessions will explore these literary works followed by a hearty discussion!
READ MORE
Edinburgh Tradfest: Scotland’s Ancient Goddess: Hidden in Plain Sight
In his new book Scotland’s Sacred Goddess: Hidden in Plain Sight, Stuart McHardy explores the pre-Christian beliefs of the Scottish people.
READ MORE
Walk Like A Girl - Book Launch
Sparsile Books invites you to the Book Launch of 'Walk Like a Girl', based on a true story by Claudia Esnouf, at The Stevenson House on 7th May.
READ MORE
Meet John Connolly
Join bestselling crime author, John Connolly on 16th May, where he will be signing copies of the highly anticipated, twenty-second installment in his Charlie Parker series, The Children of Eve!
READ MORE
Benji Waterhouse: You Don’t Have to Be Mad to Work Here - Book Tour 2025
NHS psychiatrist, award-winning comedian, and Sunday Times best-selling author Benji Waterhouse — is going on his first book tour and brings it to the Traverse Theatre on Saturday 17th May!
READ MORE
An Evening with Kate Foster
Waterstones Edinburgh West End is thrilled to welcome bestselling author Kate Foster on 28th May, to celebrate the publication of her masterfully gripping new novel, The Mourning Necklace!
READ MORE
Pride & Prejudice - Queer Book Fair at The Georgian House
Join us at The Georgian House this Pride Month as we celebrate the opening of Below Stairs Books, our new secondhand bookshop, with a special Queer Book Fair on Friday 6th June!
READ MORE
An Evening with Sarah Pinborough
Join award-winning author of New York Times bestselling breakout novel (and hit Netflix show) Behind Her Eyes, Sarah Pinborough at Waterstones Edinburgh West End on 10th June!
READ MORE
An Evening with Linwood Barclay
Waterstones Edinburgh West End is delighted to be welcoming international bestselling crime and thriller author, Linwood Barclay, to the shop on Thursday 18th June!
READ MOREFind other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links