Read Outside the Box

Discouraged by the long list of sold-out events at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival? Fest asked for an insider’s view on what was best from the vast selection of shows with tickets still available; Claudia Monteiro kindly obliged:

“If you’re after an author with more than just some good tunes then don’t miss Alex James on 9 August. Is it all a bit too blurry? Then throw your hands into drawing a comic or two. For one day only Gary Erskine, previously of Marvel Comics and one of Paisley’s good men, will use his recent reworking of Dan Dare in a masterclass intended to reveal the art behind designing and drawing comic-book characters. Catch Hannah Berry, Alan Grant & Bryan Talbot on 22 August and try to catch the grande dame of British comics, Posy Simmonds, on 24 August.

Those looking for more comedy should know that although Mark Watson’s Fringe show is selling out fast, they can still see him at the Book Festival on 23 August.”