James Robertson @ EIBF

 

James Robertson was at the book festival to launch The Lay of the Land, his state of the nation novel about Scotland in the latter half of the twentieth century. Host James Naughtie amiably joked that he never thought he’d read a novel where the Pollok by-election of 1967 played a major part, and the author laughed along with him. The theatre was packed for this event, a stark contrast to the last time Robertson promoted a new book at the festival – his event for The Testament of Gideon Mack was maybe half-full. The quality of that book, plus the expanded promotion for this one, plus it being a book of the week on Radio 4, all affected the turnout. Robertson did a couple of readings from the book, which worked rather well, especially as songs immediately followed. This was something of a shock at first, as a man simply strode up to the podium from the audience and started singing, unaccompanied by instruments. This treat came from folk singer Jimmy Hutcheson, who, fittingly enough, actually has a cameo part in The Lay of the Land. This welcome addition allowed the event to finish with a moving rendition of The D-Day Dodgers, a choice which was greatly appreciated by the audience. [Keir Hind]