The Edinburgh International Book Festival is getting under way on Saturday.

The festival, based in the city's Charlotte Square, will run for more than two weeks.

More than 800 writers, illustrators, journalists and scientists from 55 countries will take part.

Events include bestselling American author Jonathan Safran Foer launching his new book Here I Am, his first novel in over a decade.

Han Kang, author of The Vegetarian and winner of the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, will discuss the role of translation in bringing international fiction to an English-speaking audience.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will interview the newly appointed Scottish Makar, Jackie Kay.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will speak about globalisation and populism while Mark Thomson, former director general of the BBC, will argue the internet and 24-hour news have failed to lead to better democracy.

Nick Barley, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said "This year's Festival is about encouraging and celebrating the sort of courageous, positive, creative thinking that we desperately need in order to make the world a better place for everyone, rather than just for a privileged few.

"Novelists, journalists, scientists and poets - writers are the people we always turn to at a time when we need to imagine better.

"We welcome legendary novelists, prize-winning journalists and life-changing poets, as well as emerging talents whose unforgettable stories will revolutionise our future thinking. All in all, it's a Festival bursting at the seams with big ideas."

The festival will run between August 13 and August 29.