Pinter back in the spotlight at Edinburgh book festival

Harold Pinter is to return to the public spotlight for the first time since he was diagnosed with cancer in a one-off appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

The 71-year-old playwright, who is one of the most influential British literary figures of the past 50 years, was told in February that he had cancer of the oesophagus. He underwent a major operation in April.

Pinter is convalescing from the surgery and effects of chemotherapy, but it was confirmed yesterday that the man described as the "greatest playwright of post-war Britain" will appear in public on 25 August. It will be the first time that Pinter has appeared at the event, which is part of the Edinburgh Festival.

The writer, poet, director, actor and political activist, whose work includes The Birthday Party and The Caretaker, is to appear in a showcase of contemporary writing, showing that he is determined to continue working, despite a serious illness.

"Festival director Catherine Lockerbie said:"He has never been to the Book Festival before and it was feared he wouldn't make it this year after he was diagnosed in February, but just before he underwent his operation in April he wrote to me to say he was absolutely determined to come anyway.

"It's a tribute to his strength and will that he is doing this. It will be his return to the public eye after months battling a severe illness and it's a compliment to the book festival."

The Edinburgh International Book Festival, which runs from 10 until 26 August, is the largest literary event in the world. This year, 550 authors will participate in 650 events covering a range of entertaining, educational and controversial topics.

Joining Pinter and his wife, the historian Lady Antonia Fraser, who will take part in a separate event, are Alan Bennett, Seamus Heaney, Ian McEwan, David Starkey, Roddy Doyle, John McGahern, Doris Lessing, Edward Said, Fay Weldon, Ian Rankin and Louis de Bernières.

Announcing the launch of this year's programme, Ms Lockerbie said: "I could not be more excited or proud about the programme this year."

"It is not only the largest literary festival in Britain, three times larger than Hay, but also the largest in the world."

The festival also promises several themes designed to explore contentious issues, such as debates on the monarchy, experiments on animals, and compensation culture.

"Some of the planet's most powerful thinkers will be in Charlotte Square Gardens this August," Ms Lockerbie added.

The festival will also bring together writers from the United States to explore their country's reaction to the 11 September terrorist attacks. They include Joyce Carol Oates, Kathryn Harrison, Walter Mosley and Claire Messud.

The future of the Middle East will also be debated by Israeli novelist Amos Oz, commentator David Grossman and Raja Shehadeh, a human rights lawyer from Ramallah.