Amid a slew of politicians’ memoirs in recent years, Alan Johnson’s This Boy was comfortably among the finest: one critic called it ‘the best political testament I’ve ever read’. The former Home Secretary returns to the Book Festival with his sequel, Please, Mister Postman, which takes a nostalgic journey back in time and paints a vivid picture of Britain in the 1970s and in this Edinburgh International Book Festival event, recorded live, he talks to Scottish journalist and broadcaster Ruth Wishart and thoroughly charms his audience.

Alan Cumming with Ian Rankin at Edinburgh International Book Festival (edbookfest)

Authors from 55 different countries appeared at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2015. Internationally renowned writers and thinkers from around the world gathered in Charlotte Square Gardens, the Book Festival’s home, to trade stories, share ideas, inspire audiences and answer questions. Old favourites, bestsellers and award-winners rubbed shoulders with newcomers (the literary stars of tomorrow?) to talk about their books and discuss the important topics of today. You can listen to some of the author events and discussions in this free series of podcasts – a small selection of what went on in Edinburgh during August 2015.