EIBF Events on Monday 27th August

• Wake up to Words - Highland Park Spiegeltent

One of Scotland's finest contemporary poets, chronicler of the history of Scottish literature since the Union in this resonant anniversary year, investigator of the links between science and poetry – Robert Crawford is a virtual one-stop shop for everything that matters about Scottish literature. Who better to begin our last day?

• Scottish History - Peppers Theatre

Border Reivers and the truth behind the legend of Merlin: rich unusual paths of Scottish history unwind. Alistair Moffat, former Fringe director, TV executive, and creator of the Borders Book Festival in Melrose lights up the history of his beloved border lands. Adam Ardrey also argues convincingly that Merlin the magician was a Scot.

• The Baillie Gifford Event - RBS Main Theatre

Provocative and brilliant, Niall Ferguson is one of the most admired and controversial Scottish historians and commentators in the world today. His acerbic intelligence, vast knowledge and bracing views are never less than stimulating. His masterpiece is the brilliant The War Of The World about the hatreds of the twentieth century. Chaired by Iain Macwhirter.

• Matters of the Mind - ScottishPower Studio Theatre

The complexities of the human mind, relationships and mental health were explored in pioneering depth by John (Jock) D Sutherland, leading Scottish psychoanalyst. His hugely influential writings on the self in society have been gathered by expert Jill Scharff, who here talks to Richard Holloway about the crucial lessons they teach us.

• Scottish Literature - Writers' Retreat

Our final day celebrations of Scottish literature continue with an overdue biography of Alexander Scott, a hugely influential figure in our post-war culture, whose vigorous poems in English and Scots enlivened and informed the Scottish literary renaissance and whose wide-ranging cultural energies and activities helped shape modern Scottish literature and society.

• Nations Unlimited - ScottishPower Studio Theatre

Murder in Samarkand is the no-holds-barred account of the former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, characterful Scot Craig Murray. Refusing to keep quiet about alleged abuses of human rights, the high-living diplomat started to question his role and that of Britain in the 'war on terror'. Candid, personal and dramatic.

• Literature and Culture - Peppers Theatre

One of the greatest Scottish writers of them all, James Hogg, the 'Ettrick Shepherd' went from ragged cowherd to famous author at a time of great social and cultural change in the early nineteenth century. In the first major new biography for many decades, Hogg scholar Gillian Hughes gives new insight into this complex genius.

• Gaelic Culture - Writers' Retreat

In the final event of our series linked to Highland 2007, one of Scotland's most prominent broadcasters tells of her bicycle journey through the Western Isles, discovering the rapid decline of Gaelic culture in its remaining heartland. She argues passionately that modern Scotland needs the diversity and cultural DNA the Gaels uniquely provide.

• The Scottish PEN Lecture - ScottishPower Studio Theatre

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of Scottish PEN, the organisation which campaigns for freedom of expression for writers everywhere, one of the most knowledgeable and respected experts on Scottish literature looks back at the last eight decades of Scottish writing, and the enormous change and dynamism within it.

• Crime - Writers' Retreat

Two of the spectacular stars of the burgeoning Scottish crime scene come together in a satisfyingly tough and gritty hour of dark plotting and murder in the mean streets of Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Stuart MacBride shows the Granite City in a new and unsettling light; Allan Guthrie reveals the hard side of the capital.

• History - Peppers Theatre

Forget The Da Vinci Code and its many offshoots. In The Secrets of Rosslyn Roddy Martine looks carefully at 600 years of history of the beautiful and mysterious Rosslyn Chapel, sorts fact from fantasy and shows that the truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

• Literature and Cultre - Writers' Retreat

Hugh MacDiarmid was the great colossus of twentieth century Scottish literature, though often lived in conditions of great hardship. A new revealing collection of correspondence between him and his wife Valda Grieve is peopled by a huge, global cast of characters from the Grieves's artistic, political and community life, asking us to revise previously held notions of loyalty, work, poverty and culture.

• Literature and Cultre - RBS Main Theatre

Richard Holloway is at the heart of Scotland's culture, charged with bringing into being the new organisation which will govern the arts. He is philosopher, former bishop and writer of over twenty intensely thoughtful books. Who better to talk about the kind of country Scotland might aspire to be? Join him on this final night of the Book Festival in this special address on Imagining Scotland.

• Poetry - ScottishPower Studio Theatre

We must end with poetry, and only the best, most rapturous poetry at that. Carol Ann Duffy epitomises the spirit of this festival – generous, open, in love with language. Sit back and listen to one of the most seductively captivating poets in the land, and store and cherish the power of the words until next year.