My Edinburgh Experience (Dr Saman Hussein Omar, Lecturer, Salahaddin University)

As an Iraqi Kurdish academic, this was my second visit to the UK but my first to the gorgeous Edinburgh. I was so lucky to be invited both times by the British Council, to whom I believe I owe a lot.

The first time I visited the UK with the British Council, in 2004, I took part in a teacher training course in West Yorkshire. And a few days ago I had the privilege to participate in the Edinburgh International Book Festival through the British Council’s Bookcase programme. Participating in such a programme is an unforgettable experience. Being introduced to many new contemporary writers at the programme was, without doubt, of great benefit to me.

It was very exciting to attend events where critically acclaimed writers such as A. S. Byatt, Janice Galloway, and David Mitchell read excerpts from their works and had discussions with the audience. What particularly attracted my attention was the British Council’s choice of writers. These writers were so fascinating that people always hurried to buy signed copies of their novels when the events were finished!

Apart from that, the British Council invited many other delegates from nearly 30 countries, which gave me a good opportunity to interact with people from different parts of the world who are interested in literature and festivals, and was a source of rich cultural exchange - as well as making new friends. Discussions took place everywhere, from the British Council party held at Charlotte Square (where the Book Case events took place) to the networking lunches arranged by the National Library of Scotland, the Scottish Library of Poetry, and the City Chambers.  

In addition to the literary and cultural experience I gained from the program, I also enjoyed the historical sites of Edinburgh. The city is so full of history that I couldn't help taking photos wherever I went. In short, I can say, we delegates got the best of what Edinburgh had to offer and I fervently look forward to visiting this city again; and with my family next time.  

Untitled (Susan Hayes, Director of Literature, Australia Council for the Arts)

I’m sitting in my eyrie on the top floor of the Caledonian Hotel, with an amazing view across Edinburgh Castle to the Firth of Forth, thinking: ‘Thank you, thank you British Council for inviting me to the fabulous Book Fair.’  The warmth of welcome from the BC and the people of Edinburgh has transcended the Scottish wind and rain. I’ve just walked back from another splendid lunch where I actually TALKED TO IAN RANKIN and I feel like a dumbstruck teenager at her first rock concert.

Other highlights have been the charm and erudition of A S Byatt and David Mitchell. Dame Antonia talked about the conflict between her Quaker upbringing, when she was taught always to tell the truth, and her profession as a writer of fiction. Booker long-listed David Mitchell’s charming self-deprecation failed to conceal a deeply intellectual approach to research and writing. I can’t believe I haven’t read his books and this will be remedied with my next trip to the amazing Book Fair shop.

Then there were the children’s sessions. A highlight was provided by Jim Eldridge persuading a room full of young boys to write their own thriller. The resulting best-seller included Tony Blair as an arch-villain, an atom bomb explosion, mutilation and a plot to take Europe back to old-style communism, aided by the CIA. When I told my international colleagues about this session, there was a lot of interest and note-taking. The Book Fair has provided inspiration for us all to take back new ideas to our own countries.

Above all there were the audiences. Never, in my long career of attending writers festivals, have I encountered such an intelligent and informed collection of people. As David Mitchell remarked, ‘Edinburgh audiences can be counted on as a live Wikipedia of knowledge’.

It’s all gone by too quickly – only another 24 hours. I’ve fallen in love with the city and its people and I will, of course, be back.