Edinburgh is City of Literature

Edinburgh, UK, is named the world´s first City of Literature by the United Nations´ cultural body Unesco.

Scottish Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson expressed delight at the decision and said it confirmed the city´s literary credentials. Leading writers, including JK Rowling, Dame Muriel Spark and Ian Rankin, had backed the campaign. The bid was put to Unesco officials in Paris on October 13th and a formal announcement was made on 14th.

The city could point to literary greats including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Burns, who all lived and wrote in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh has been named as the world's first City of Literature in a decision likely to bring even more arts tourists to the Scottish capital.  The title could attract about £2.2m to Edinburgh and £2.1m into the Scottish economy through tourism and literary festivals.  It is thought that Edinburgh could officially receive its title in April 2005.