The investment firm Baillie Gifford has had long associations with Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Hay book festival, but in the past fortnight both have terminated their sponsorship agreements. It remains to be seen what happens to the Cheltenham and Cambridge literary festivals. Also in the potential firing line is the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize, awarded to the best nonfiction book of the year. Clearly a compelling case can be made that climate catastrophe is more important than a literary festival. A subject worth thrashing out at a literary festival near you, if it happens.

Source: The Irish Times June 08, 2024 16:41 UTC