Some places are simply magical, moodchanging, sparkling, unique. Once through the gates of Harmony Garden in Melrose in June, you will suddenly find yourself in another world, in a country of the imagination, of wit, intelligence, debate and laughter. Despite persistent pressure to grow and expand the festival to more than a long weekend in June and beyond the walls of the garden, we have refused. Instead we aim to improve, to do our best to make the festival experience better for everyone. And although we fashion an annual rod for our own backs by saying so, what follows is by any measure the best Borders Book Festival programme yet. Its diversity, verve, sheer quality and promise are extraordinary.
None of this would happen without our mainstays: Brewin Dolphin our superb headline sponsor, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch for the mighty Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction, two imaginative and steadfast public funders in the Scottish Borders Council and Creative Scotland, and our many festival Friends.
Welcome to the magical, sparkling Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival.
Alistair Moffat
Director