VIDEO: 17,000 flock to book festival

Almost 17,000 visitors flocked through the gates of Harmony Garden in Melrose for the 2014 Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival.
By Mark Entwistle
Published 16th Jun 2014, 16:47 BST
Robert Harris has won the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his novel about the Dreyfus affair, An Officer and a Spy. Originally shortlisted for the Prize in its inaugural year, the author returned to Melrose, Scotland four years later to receive his award from the Duke of Buccleuch at the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival on Friday 13th June Photograph by Alex Hewitt/Writer Pictures WORLD RIGHTSRobert Harris has won the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his novel about the Dreyfus affair, An Officer and a Spy. Originally shortlisted for the Prize in its inaugural year, the author returned to Melrose, Scotland four years later to receive his award from the Duke of Buccleuch at the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival on Friday 13th June Photograph by Alex Hewitt/Writer Pictures WORLD RIGHTS
Robert Harris has won the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his novel about the Dreyfus affair, An Officer and a Spy. Originally shortlisted for the Prize in its inaugural year, the author returned to Melrose, Scotland four years later to receive his award from the Duke of Buccleuch at the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival on Friday 13th June Photograph by Alex Hewitt/Writer Pictures WORLD RIGHTS

Organisers say tickets sales were up by over 10% on last year for the four-day programme, which ran from Thursday to Sunday night, and included appearances by Absolutely Fabulous star, Jennifer Saunders, former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, comedian Rory Bremner, television wildlife presenter Steve Backshall and former prime minister, Gordon Brown.

This year’s Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction went to Robert Harris for his novel, An Officer and a Spy, for which he received a cheque for £25,000 and a trophy from prize sponsor, The Duke of Buccleuch.

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Festival director Alistair Moffat commented: “This was simply the best, the best festival ever. Not only did 17,000 come through the gates at Harmony, the variety of events was startling and the audience responded hugely. Can’t wait for next year.”

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Robert Harris has won the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his novel about the Dreyfus affair, An Officer and a Spy. Originally shortlisted for the Prize in its inaugural year, the author returned to Melrose, Scotland four years later to receive his award from the Duke of Buccleuch at the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival on Friday 13th June Photograph by Alex Hewitt/Writer Pictures WORLD RIGHTSRobert Harris has won the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his novel about the Dreyfus affair, An Officer and a Spy. Originally shortlisted for the Prize in its inaugural year, the author returned to Melrose, Scotland four years later to receive his award from the Duke of Buccleuch at the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival on Friday 13th June Photograph by Alex Hewitt/Writer Pictures WORLD RIGHTS
Robert Harris has won the £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his novel about the Dreyfus affair, An Officer and a Spy. Originally shortlisted for the Prize in its inaugural year, the author returned to Melrose, Scotland four years later to receive his award from the Duke of Buccleuch at the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival on Friday 13th June Photograph by Alex Hewitt/Writer Pictures WORLD RIGHTS

Mr Harris was delighted to have won the Walter Scott Prize after losing out four years ago to Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall.

“To win is fantastic. Walter Scott is a great hero of mine and the shortlist was amazing,” he said.

Related topics:MelroseGordon Brown