Sir Sean's word is his bond as memoirs launched at festival

IT is yet to be published, but has already become one of the most talked about books of recent years.

And now Sir Sean Connery is to return to the city of his youth for the launch of his long-awaited memoirs.

The Fountainbridge-born star will use the city's International Book Festival in August to reveal the first details of the work, entitled Being a Scot.

The talk – planned for Sir Sean's 78th birthday on August 25 – will see him team up with acclaimed Scottish filmmaker and co-author Murray Grigor.

The event is a world exclusive for the Charlotte Square-based Book Festival, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The book was originally expected to be released last September to mark the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Union between Scotland and England.

It has been plagued with delays and fall-outs after Sir Sean cancelled a deal with the Beatles' biographer, Hunter Davies, and the publisher HarperCollins before settling on an agreement which will see its release timed perfectly to coincide with the festival.

The book combines an account of Connery's life with a take on Scotland's history and culture. It will be more than 300 pages long and feature 400 photographs from his private collection.

His childhood growing up in Fountainbridge and his life partying with the most famous names in the world are all expected to be covered.

This year's Book Festival will be the biggest yet, with a record 800 authors participating in more than 750 events.

Festival director Catherine Lockerbie said: "I am overjoyed that so many authors, from the most renowned to brand new writers being heard here for the first time, have accepted our invitation to come and be part of our intricately constructed 25th anniversary festival.

"It is my passion to make this the most international, illuminating, engaging, argumentative and inspiring celebration of words and ideas anywhere in the world.

"I hope the pressing issues and powerful individual voices in this year's programme reflect that ambition, a fitting one for Edinburgh, the first Unesco City of Literature, and the world's greatest festival city."

Sir Sean's appearance also marks a James Bond presence in this, the 100th anniversary year of Ian Fleming's birth.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel, and the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, there will also be an East and West and War and Terror series bringing together world experts.

Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said: "The 25th anniversary Edinburgh International Book Festival is a great addition to the city's wider festival programme, which again looks firmly set to be an outstanding, world-class festival.

"The programme for this year's book festival is hugely impressive and I, along with many thousands of other festival-goers, look forward to enjoying what's sure to be a fantastic series of events."

HEAVYWEIGHTS WITH WRITE STUFF
THIS year's festival sees a list of literary heavyweights such as Salman Rushdie, Louis de Bernières and Margaret Atwood joining Sir Sean on the programme.

A powerful line-up of politicians, political commentators and foreign correspondents includes John Prescott, Alex Salmond, Menzies Campbell, Gavin Esler, Jonathan Dimbleby, Polly Toynbee, Martin Bell and Alan Johnston.

A special 25th anniversary opening event will feature a major public figure revealed in a new light in conversation with Ian Rankin.

The mystery guest will be announced on August 8, the day before the festival opens.

Other themes include a focus on China and bringing together Western writers.