Edinburgh Events and Reading Groups
We're delighted to bring our all-year-round Literary Festival to our bookshop in Edinburgh. We have a packed calendar which ranges from readings in the bookshop to evenings with literary stars.
Louise Welsh for The Cut Up
Monday 9th February, 7pm
Rilke is a brilliant creation: as raddled, queer and resilient as Glasgow itself -- ALAN CUMMINGAs gritty as it is compelling, The Cut Up is a …
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Queer Fiction Reading Group
Monday 9th February, 7pm
Welcome to our Queer Fiction Reading Group! This is an inclusive reading group open to anyone to come together to read and discuss LGBTQIA+ literature, with …
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Gavin Francis with Ian Rankin for The Unfragile Mind
Tuesday 10th February, 7pm
Join us as we welcome the always-brilliant and ever-insightful Gavin Francis to celebrate his latest book: The Unfragile Mind. The event will be chaired by the …
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John Yorke for Trip to the Moon
Wednesday 11th February, 7pm
In this invaluable book, John Yorke uncovers the narratives that help us make sense of the world - and offers an antidote to paint-by-numbers screenwriting manuals. …
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The New Frontiers: Contemporary Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Group
Thursday 12th February, 7pm
You asked, we answered; due to popular demand, we’ve opened up a second Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Group!Join Andrew as he leads you on a guided …
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Historian Marc Mierowsky for A Spy Amongst Us
Thursday 12th February, 7pm
Join us this February with Marc Mierowsky to learn the true story of Daniel Defoe and the dirty tricks which helped bring Scotland into union with …
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Madeline Cash for Lost Lambs
Monday 16th February, 7pm
‘From magical realism to magical nihilism, Madeline Cash is a voice like no other. Her novel of normal people breaking down under the most abnormal circumstances …
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Of This and Other Worlds - Science Fiction Reading Group
Monday 16th February, 7pm
Heading into 2026, we’ll be continuing our Fantasy and Science Fiction reading group, exploring worlds both fantastical and horrific, monstrous and utopian. Whether your interests lie …
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Lauren J Joseph for Lean Cat, Savage Cat
Wednesday 18th February, 7pm
'An erotic spectacular of self-creation and spiralling disintegration' Olivia LaingWe cannot wait to welcome Lauren J Joseph to the bookshop this February to celebrate her latest …
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Zain Rishi for Noon
Thursday 19th February, 8pm
“Dazzling, tender, unexpected, these poems tell an affecting story of a young queer man moving between worlds... An original and exciting new voice in the poetry …
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Ryan Cahill with Hannah Kaner for 'Of Blood and Fire'
Friday 20th February, 7pm
It is with great excitement that we welcome indie-publishing sensation Ryan Cahill to Edinburgh to celebrate the launch of The Broken Binding Press Edition of Of …
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The Guardian's Keza MacDonald for Super Nintendo
Tuesday 24th February, 7pm
'Among the best things ever written about Nintendo.'Tom , author of Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter Keza MacDonald is the video games editor at The …
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Tom Hindle for A Killer in Paradise
Thursday 26th February, 7pm
"Tom Hindle has committed the perfect crime novel" - Janice HallettTom Hindle is the author of A Fatal Crossing, The Murder Game, Murder on Lake Garda …
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Mary's Feminist Fiction Reading Group
Monday 2nd March, 7pm
Welcome to the wonderful Feminist Fiction Reading Group! A place to discover and enjoy a range of titles and themes lovingly hand picked by Mary. Woven …
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Justine Picardie on Fashioning the Crown
Tuesday 3rd March, 7pm
Justine Picardie is the author of six books, including Miss Dior: A Story of Courage and Couture, and the international bestseller, Coco Chanel: The Legend and …
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Dame Prue Leith on Being Old... And Learning to Love It!
Wednesday 4th March, 7pm
Dame Prue Leith is first and foremost a businesswoman, who made her name at Michelin starred restaurant Leith's, and Prue Leith's school of Food and Wine, …
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Rawan's Middle Eastern Fiction Reading Group
Thursday 5th March, 7pm
Welcome back lovers of Middle Eastern Fiction! This Reading Group will explore powerful and complex voices from the Middle East, both contemporary and classic, from a …
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Nancy Birtwhistle on Clean Magic
Thursday 5th March, 7pm
Nancy Birtwhistle is a Sunday Times bestselling author, lifelong gardener and Hull-born baker who won the fifth series of The Great British Bake Off in 2014.Motivated …
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Francis Spufford for Nonesuch
Thursday 5th March, 7pm
'My God can he write.' ~~Richard OsmanFrancis Spufford, the booker-longlisted author of Light Perpetual and friend of the bookshop returns to celebrate his latest fantastical masterpiece, …
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Queer Fiction Reading Group
Monday 9th March, 7pm
Welcome to our Queer Fiction Reading Group! This is an inclusive reading group open to anyone to come together to read and discuss LGBTQIA+ literature, with …
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Cooks & Books: Edd Kimber for Chocolate Baking
Tuesday 10th March, 7pm
Join us with master baker and first ever winner of The Great British Bake Off, Edd Kimber, as he chats and cooks from his love letter …
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The New Frontiers: Contemporary Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Group
Wednesday 11th March, 7pm
You asked, we answered; due to popular demand, we’ve opened up a second Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Group!Join Andrew as he leads you on a guided …
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Jennie Godfrey for The Barbecue at No.9
Thursday 12th March, 7pm
"A beautiful story about secrets, lies and community." - Graham NortonFollowing on from the incredible success of The List of Suspicious Things, we are delighted to …
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Stories About Autism's James Hunt for Love Needs No Words
Friday 13th March, 7pm
We are pleased to be welcoming James Hunt to Edinburgh this March. James is the founder of Stories About Autism, where hundreds of thousands of people …
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Saara El-Arifi with Jean Menzies for Cleopatra
Friday 13th March, 7pm
'Enchanting, smart, and subversive - this is El-Arifi's masterpiece' - R. F. KUANGIt is our great pleasure to welcome Sunday Times Bestseller, Saara El-Arifi, back to …
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Jenni Fagan for The Delusions
Monday 16th March, 7pm
'Brilliant, original, daring, a 1984 for the afterlife and a fabulous satire. It really makes you think about what it means to be human.'- Irvine WelshWe …
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Of This and Other Worlds - Science Fiction Reading Group
Monday 16th March, 7.15pm
Heading into 2026, we’ll be continuing our Fantasy and Science Fiction reading group, exploring worlds both fantastical and horrific, monstrous and utopian. Whether your interests lie …
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An Afternoon with Mary Berry
Wednesday 18th March, 2pm
We're thrilled to announce our event with Mary Berry in celebration of her new book, My Gardening Life.'In another life I may have been a gardener'Well-known …
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An Evening of Poetry with the87press
Wednesday 18th March, 7pm
We are thrilled to be hosting an evening of poetry with the87press's Emily Lee Luan, Megan Pinto and Annie Wenstrup. We will also be joined by …
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Peter Mackay, Don Paterson, Kathleen Jamie and Brian Holton for Irish Pages: "Scotland" (Vol 12, No 2)
Thursday 19th March, 7pm
We are delighted to be hosting four Scottish poets to celebrate the "Scotland" edition of Irish Pages. We will be joined by Peter MacKay, Don Paterson, …
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Michael Pollan with Sally Magnusson for A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness
Friday 20th March, 7pm
Join Michael Pollan, one of the greatest narrative-non fiction writers in the English language, to celebrate his latest book, A World Appears.Pollan has already brought us …
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Rosie Hewlett for Sweetbitter Song
Monday 23rd March, 7pm
THE GREATEST LOVE STORY NEVER TOLD.'This is Rosie Hewlett's masterpiece' Jennifer Saint'As dazzling as Madeline Miller's reimagining of the Iliad in The Song of Achilles' Elodie …
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Antony Beevor for Rasputin and the Downfall of the Romanovs
Tuesday 24th March, 7pm
One of the great historians of our time returns to Edinburgh to celebrate his latest work, Rasputin, charting the rise and fall of the so-called 'mad …
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Susan Tomes for Nocturnes
Wednesday 25th March, 7pm
Susan Tomes joins us to celebrate Nocturnes, an engrossing history of the music of twilight and sleep, from the nocturnes of Field and Chopin to Max …
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Christopher Buehlman for Between Two Fires
Thursday 26th March, 7pm
This March, we are honoured to celebrate the long-awaited UK release of Between Two Fires. A TikTok sensation and an astounding work of fantasy horror, we …
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A Night of Scottish Witch-Lit with Philip Paris, Mairi Kidd, and Anna Caig
Friday 27th March, 7pm
Join us this March for a very special panel event where we welcome three authors who specialise in witchy fiction; Philip Paris, Mairi Kidd, and Anna …
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Elinor Cleghorn for A Woman's Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering
Monday 30th March, 7pm
We are delighted to welcome Elinor Cleghorn to Edinburgh this March to celebrate A Woman's Work: the Radical History of Mothering. Elinor's previous book, Unwell Women, …
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Aimee MacDonald for The Last Witch on the Knock
Tuesday 31st March, 7pm
Join us this March to celebrate a fabulous new literary horror debut by Aimée MacDonald, The Last Witch on the Knock. Based on the story of …
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Hester Musson for The Night Hag
Wednesday 1st April, 7pm
Bestselling author of The Beholders, Hester Musson, presents a thrilling new Scottish historical mystery, brimming with science, spiritualism and belief. From standing stones to ancestral secrets, …
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Louise Heren for Scottish History in 15 Violent Crimes
Thursday 2nd April, 7pm
We are looking forward to welcoming Dr Louise Heren to the bookshop this April to celebrate her latest book, Scottish History in 15 Violence Crimes.We hope …
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Mary's Feminist Fiction Reading Group
Thursday 2nd April, 7pm
Welcome to the wonderful Feminist Fiction Reading Group! A place to discover and enjoy a range of titles and themes lovingly hand picked by Mary. Woven …
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Antonia Senior for Stalin's Apostles
Monday 6th April, 7pm
'Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how language and ideological zeal can alter the fate of nations' - David McCloskeyJoin us this April for …
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Queer Fiction Reading Group
Monday 6th April, 7pm
Welcome to our Queer Fiction Reading Group! This is an inclusive reading group open to anyone to come together to read and discuss LGBTQIA+ literature, with …
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David Keenan for Boyhood
Tuesday 7th April, 7pm
'Boyhood is a complete triumph . . . it slaps our dull, sterile culture hard across the face with a studded, uncompromising literary glove' - IRVINE …
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Rawan's Middle Eastern Fiction Reading Group
Thursday 9th April, 7pm
Welcome back lovers of Middle Eastern Fiction! This Reading Group will explore powerful and complex voices from the Middle East, both contemporary and classic, from a …
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Cooks & Books: Tim Anderson for JapanEasy Kitchen
Friday 10th April, 7pm
Calling all Japanese cooking lovers, or those wanting to delve into the wonderful world of miso and yuzu! Expert cook Tim Anderson takes us through Japanese …
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Mark Steel for The Leopard In My House
Tuesday 14th April, 7pm
'A deep, personal, clever and witty book' - Michael RosenMark Steel joins us this April for his deeply humane, funny, and inspiring book, The Leopard In …
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Cooks & Books: Nathan Outlaw for On Fish
Wednesday 15th April, 7pm
'Simply delicious recipes by the master of fish.' Jamie OliverJoin us as we welcome Michelin-star chef Nathan Outlaw to celebrate his latest cookbook, On Fish: a …
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Ben Lerner for Transcription
Thursday 16th April, 7pm
"Lerner is a linguistic magician and here is another triumphant and beautiful sleight of hand" -- Daisy JohnsonFor over two-decades, Ben Lerner has been one of …
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Tim Parks for: Across Sicily with the Thousand
Monday 20th April, 7pm
We're delighted welcome Tim Parks for Across Sicily with the Thousand. Tim is a friend of the bookshop and an icon of travel writing. We hope …
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Of This and Other Worlds - Science Fiction Reading Group
Monday 20th April, 7.15pm
Heading into 2026, we’ll be continuing our Fantasy and Science Fiction reading group, exploring worlds both fantastical and horrific, monstrous and utopian. Whether your interests lie …
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Catherine Ostler for The Renoir Girls
Tuesday 21st April, 7pm
Castherine Ostler joins us to celebrate The Renoir Girls - an astonishing true story of splendour, scandal and tragedy in Golden Age Paris. Hot off the …
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James Bailey for Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark
Thursday 23rd April, 7pm
"This is a deeply stylish, astute and illuminating biography of a fascinating writer" - Francesca WadeThere are few names in the history of Scottish literature more …
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John Kampfner for Braver New World
Thursday 23rd April, 7pm
We are delighted to be welcoming broadcaster, journalist and award-winning author John Kampfner to Edinburgh to discuss his new book Braver New World: The Countries Daring …
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Dan Richards With Special Guest, Shipping Forecast announcer, Ron Brown, for Overnight
Friday 24th April, 7pm
"Funny and moving and generously various in its voice" - Robert MacFarlane"A revelatory journey into the teeming life of the night. Moving, engrossing, essential" - Katherine …
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Cooks & Books: Helen Graham for Centrepiece
Monday 27th April, 7pm
"Helen carries the torch for all the ingredients I love most. Vegetables behaving exactly as they should. A cook after my own heart." - YOTAM OTTOLENGHIWe …
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Sara Wheeler for Jan Morris: A Life
Tuesday 28th April, 7pm
'Superb.' - Colin Thubron'Breathtakingly good.' - Michael PalinThere are few literary figures more significant in the last seventy-years than Jan Morris. From her magnum-opus, Trieste, to …
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Jane Harper with Val McDermid for Last One Out
Wednesday 29th April, 7pm
This April we'll be joined by the tremendous Jane Harper to discuss her latest book, Last One Out - an unforgettable small-town mystery with huge emotional …
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Andrey Kurkov for The Lost Soldiers
Thursday 30th April, 7pm
Literary legend Andrey Kurkov joins us in Edinburgh for the first time to celebrate the latest in his Kyiv mysteries, Lost Soldiers. It is an honour …
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James Holland for The Visionaries
Monday 4th May, 7pm
Acclaimed historian and bookshop favourite, James Holland, returns this May to celebrate his latest work, The Visionaries. Holland's writing is, as always, gripping, thorough, and deeply …
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Cooks & Books: FoodieHolly aka Holly Dingwall for Dinner, Solved
Monday 4th May, 7pm
Join us for a culinary evening with Scotland's top foodie influencer, FoodieHolly aka Holly Dingwall! Stuck in a dinner rut? Bored of the same old pasta? …
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An Evening of Poetry with Bloomsbury and Nine Arches Press
Tuesday 5th May, 7pm
We are delighted to be hosting a joint reading between four poets across Bloomsbury and Nine Arches Press: Karen McCarthy Woolf, Troy Cabida, Safa Khatib and …
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Mary's Feminist Fiction Reading Group
Wednesday 6th May, 7pm
Welcome to the wonderful Feminist Fiction Reading Group! A place to discover and enjoy a range of titles and themes lovingly hand picked by Mary. Woven …
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Roderick Beaton for Europe: A New History
Wednesday 6th May, 7pm
'Europe is big history at its best. In this captivating romp across twenty-five centuries, from the Battle of Marathon to Putin's war on Ukraine, Roderick Beaton …
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Jack Parlabane returns! Chris Brookmyre for Quite Ugly One Evening
Thursday 7th May, 7pm
'Chris Brookmyre is a genius' - Richard Osman'There's nothing he can't do' - Mick HerronChristopher Brookmyre, two-time McIlvanney Prize winner, returns to Edinburgh this May to …
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Alex Howard for The Ship's Cat
Thursday 7th May, 7pm
First there was The Ghost Cat, then there was The Library Cat, now Alex Howard joins us to celebrate the wonderfully heart-warming, The Ship's Cat. It …
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Jess Venner for The Lost Voices of Pompeii
Friday 8th May, 7pm
Acclaimed historian Jess Venner joins us this May to relive the dramatic last day in Pompeii in this immersive book, based on seven of the city's …
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Cooks & Books: Henry Harris for The Racine Effect
Monday 11th May, 7pm
'I am a huge, dribbling admirer' Jay Rayner'Henry Harris cooks like a true French native' Angela Hartnett'I want to eat everything in this beautiful book - …
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Brian Dillon for Ambivalence
Tuesday 12th May, 7pm
Brian Dillon is the author of Affinities, Suppose a Sentence, Essayism, The Great Explosion (shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize), Objects in This Mirror, Tormented Hope: Nine …
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Nicholas Binge for Abyss
Thursday 14th May, 7pm
Office work can feel like hell - Maybe a little more than we think in this chilling new novel by Nicholas Binge.! His work was described …
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Sara Sheridan for The Jewel Keepers
Thursday 14th May, 7pm
We are so delighted to welcome bookseller-favourite Sara Sheridan this May for the launch of The Jewel Keepers. Featuring real historical events and places amid its …
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Cal Flyn with Dan Richards for The Savage Landscape
Monday 18th May, 7pm
Cal Flyn returns to Edinburgh to celebrate The Savage Landscape - a brilliant investigation of our relationship to the natural world. Cal's previous book, Islands of …
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McIlvanney Award Winner Tariq Ashkanani for 'The Hollow Boys'
Wednesday 20th May, 7pm
This May, we are joined by most recent McIlvanney Award winner, Tariq Ashkanani, author of The Midnight King, to celebrate the release of his latest novel …
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Sean A Pritchard for Atmosfloric
Thursday 21st May, 7pm
'All hail Sean Pritchard! His displays are full of wit, stunning colour, singular authenticity - and just damn joyous.' - Joely RichardsonWe are delighted to be …
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RJ Barker for Mortedant's Peril
Friday 22nd May, 7pm
If you have spent any time in the Science Fiction room of our Edinburgh store, you will have invariably had Andrew throwing copies of RJ Barker's …
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Claire Fuller for Hunger & Thirst
Monday 25th May, 7pm
'An absolute masterpiece. Utterly absorbing, genuinely unsettling' - JENNIE GODFREY'Atmospheric, psychologically vivid, and unputdownable' - ALICE WINNWe're delighted to be welcoming the Costa Award winning and …
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Siri Hustvedt on Paul Auster for Ghost Stories: a Memoir
Monday 25th May, 7pm
'It is Hustvedt's gift to write with exemplary clarity of what is by necessity unclear' - Hilary Mantel'Hustvedt is that rare artist, a writer of high …
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Sarah Raven for A Year of Cut Flowers
Tuesday 26th May, 7pm
'Bright, beautiful and achievable' - Mary BerryJoin us this May for tips, tricks and everything you could possibly wish to know about planning, growing and arranging …
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Tari Lang for My Neighbour, The Dictator
Tuesday 26th May, 7pm
We are excited to be welcoming Tari Lang to the bookshop this May to celebrate her memoir, My Neighbour, the Dictator - a rare first-hand memoir …
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Berdoulat's Patrick Williams for The House Rules
Thursday 28th May, 7pm
We are so looking forward to hosting Patrick Williams this May. Patrick's shop, Berdoulat, and his work are both beloved by our booksellers. We hope to …
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Tayari Jones for Kin
Monday 1st June, 7pm
"It's among Tayari's many gifts that she can touch us soul to soul with her words." - Oprah WinfreyThe Women's Prize winning author of An American …
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Mary's Feminist Fiction Reading Group
Tuesday 2nd June, 7pm
Welcome to the wonderful Feminist Fiction Reading Group! A place to discover and enjoy a range of titles and themes lovingly hand picked by Mary. Woven …
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Jennifer Saint for This Immortal Heart
Wednesday 3rd June, 7pm
Jennifer Saint joins us epic to celebrate This Immortal Heart: an epic story of love and war where two opposing deities find themselves drawn to each …
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Maggie O'Farrell for Land
Sunday 7th June, 4pm
THE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026Please note, this is the afternoon event with Maggie (4pm-5pm). For the evening event, please click here.Each place is £25 and …
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Maggie O'Farrell for Land
Sunday 7th June, 7pm
THE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026Please note, this is the evening event with Maggie (7pm-8pm). For the afternoon event, please click here.The Early Bird vouchers for …
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Minette Batters for Harvest
Wednesday 10th June, 7pm
'A fascinating life story' - Rory StewartThe first female president of the National Farmers' Union in its 109-year history tells the story of how she fought …
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Crime & Wine: Olly Smith for Death by Noir
Monday 15th June, 7pm
Olly Smith has long been a favourite amongst our booksellers and browsers alike. Now, he turns his palette and pen towards a sparkling crime novel. Join …
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Grace Curtis for Heaven's Graveyard
Tuesday 16th June, 7pm
She's back, baby! Friend of the bookshop and absolute delight Grace Curtis joins us again this year to chat about her latest novel, Heaven's Graveyard. Come …
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Lachlan Goudie for The Secrets of Painting
Tuesday 16th June, 7pm
'Not only one of the best books you'll read on the history of art, but a fascinating history of mankind. Captivating, original and enlightening' - Sathnam …
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Erin Maglaque for Presence: A Hidden History of the Female Body
Thursday 18th June, 7pm
Erin Maglaque joins us to celebrate Presence, a bold new history of the female body, combining memoir with archival research to reveal a hidden history of …
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Steve Brusatte for The Story of Birds
Tuesday 23rd June, 7pm
Join us in conversation with the brilliant Steve Brusatte, acclaimed author of The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs, as he turns his hand to the riveting …
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Mary's Feminist Fiction Reading Group
Wednesday 1st July, 7pm
Welcome to the wonderful Feminist Fiction Reading Group! A place to discover and enjoy a range of titles and themes lovingly hand picked by Mary. Woven …
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