It is with enormous pleasure, following the success of last year’s inaugural Summerhall Historical Fiction Festival, that we welcome you to this year’s event.

Having celebrated Walter Scott last year, this year’s opening event follows on by marking the 200th anniversary of the publication of his first novel, Waverley. It will be followed by James Robertson talking about God and the Devil in  Scottish fiction. On Friday afternoon,  Robert Harris speaks about his latest widely acclaimed novel on the Dreyfus case, a scandal involving espionage and injustice in Third Republic France.

We have three broad themes this year, ranging from the topical Scottish wars of independence to the Jacobite novel and of course, in the centenary year of its outbreak, the Great War. On the Great War we will hold a forum in which writers will examine the difficulties of portraying the conflict in fiction. We are lucky to have Elizabeth Speller, author of the well-received WWI novel At Break of Day, to speak to us.

The wars of Bruce and Wallace are discussed by two of the doyens of the subject in fiction, Robyn Young and Robert Low, both of them heirs to the tradition of Nigel Tranter.

Another panel of experts will discuss the portrayal of the Jacobites in fiction, while on a broader theme, Andrew Greig speaks about his novel drawing on the Border Ballad of “Fair Helen” and Rosemary Goring explains her take on the aftermath of Flodden. Debra Daley will talk about Turning the Stones, her evocative tale of mystery and intrigue set in 18th century London and on the high seas.

The weekend is completed with an exhibition of the stunning watercolours and etchings by Olivia Gill, recently commissioned by Michael Morpurgo to illustrate an edition of War Horse. This will be exhibited in the Deans Office.

What could be more fitting for the old Edinburgh University school of veterinary medicine, itself completed during the great war and alma mater for so many of the Army vets who fought and died in that conflict?

For more information and to book tickets, please visit the website.