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.
Cooks & Books: ARAN's Flora Shedden for Winter in the Highlands
Friday 7th November, 7pm
Flora Shedden is a food writer based in Perthshire, Scotland and the youngest ever semi-finalist on The Great British Bake Off. In 2017, she opened ARAN …
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The Witcher's Joey Batey for 'It's Not A Cult'
Friday 7th November, 7pm
We are pleased to welcome beloved actor and musician Joey Batey, best known as Jaskier from Netflix's The Witcher and frontman of folk band, The Amazing …
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Queer Fiction Reading Group
Monday 10th November, 7pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS SESSION IS NOW TAKING PLACE AT JOSEPH PEARCE, 23 ELM ROW, EDINBURGH EH74AA. If you have any questions email Sanna at edinburgh@toppingbooks.co.uk. For …
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Wine Tasting: Rose Murray Brown talks A Taste for Wine
Monday 10th November, 7pm
Rose Murray Brown is one of only 422 Masters of Wine - and one of only 154 female MWs - in the world.After training at Sotheby's …
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Femina's Janina Ramirez for Legenda: The Real Women Behind the Myths that Shaped Europe
Monday 10th November, 7pm
Please note, this is now taking place at Pilrig St Paul's / LARCH.'Passionate, provocative and brilliant' ~ LUCY WORSLEYProfessor Janina Ramirez is a Sunday Times bestselling …
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The Story of Art Without Men's Katy Hessel for How To Live An Artful Life
Tuesday 11th November, 7pm
This November, we are joined by the author of The Story of Art Without Men for her new book How to Live an Artful Life.Katy Hessel …
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Cooks & Books: Rick Stein for Rick Stein's Christmas
Wednesday 12th November, 7pm
Rick Stein, one of the nation's most-loved chefs, celebrates the most wonderful time of the year with a book to cosy up and hunker down with. …
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The New Frontiers: Contemporary Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Group
Thursday 13th November, 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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Jeanette Winterson for One Aladdin Two Lamps
Thursday 13th November, 7pm
A literary legend joins us for her highly anticipated newest release.Jeanette Winterson published her first novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, at twenty-five. Over two …
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Christopher Clark on A Scandal in Koenigsberg
Friday 14th November, 7pm
Christopher Clark is the Regius Professor of History at the University of Cambridge. He was knighted in 2015. His previous books are The Politics of Conversion, …
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Olivie Blake for Girl Dinner
Sunday 16th November, 7pm
"A book that whets your appetite before devouring you whole. Girl Dinner is cunning, charged and - just as you're comfortable - a profound shock.' ~ …
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Lee and Andrew Child for 'Exit Strategy'
Monday 17th November, 7pm
This November, two titans of thriller writing join us for an exclusive Scottish event. For one night in Edinburgh, Andrew Child will be joined by his …
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Whisky Tasting with Dave Broom for The Japanese Way of Whisky
Monday 17th November, 7pm
Dave Broom is an internationally celebrated spirits expert. He has won two Glenfiddich prizes and, in 2013, the IWSC Communicator of the Year Award. In 2015, …
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Adrienne Young with Hannah Kaner for Fallen City
Tuesday 18th November, 6pm
Moving between Young Adult fiction and adult Fantasy, Adrienne Young joins us to discuss her latest book Fallen City, where a glittering world, a lottery built …
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Alistair Moffat for The North Sea
Tuesday 18th November, 7pm
Alistair Moffat MBE was born in Kelso, Scotland in 1950. He is an award-winning writer, historian and former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Director …
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Science Fiction Reading Group
Tuesday 18th November, 7.15pm
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT JOSEPH PEARCE, 23 ELM ROW - JUST A SHORT WALK DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE BOOKSHOP!Now moving …
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Celebrating 'Winter' with Val McDermid
Wednesday 19th November, 7pm
As the dark nights roll in, join us to celebrate Val McDermid's biography of her favourite month - Winter. Sure to be a memorable night with …
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Jay Kristoff for Empire of the Dawn
Thursday 20th November, 6.30pm
Join us for the most hotly anticipated new epic fantasy finale of 2025!Jay Kristoff is a #1 international, New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author …
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Poetry Reading Group
Thursday 20th November, 7pm
Our poetry reading group is back for a new season, featuring contemporary classics! We’ve a wide range of poetry to jump into; from the political, to …
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Chloe Gong for Coldwire
Friday 21st November, 6pm
From Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes the start of a daring new dystopian series. Joins us to celebrate the launch …
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2025 Booker Shortlist: Andrew Miller for The Land in Winter
Sunday 23rd November, 7pm
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2025WINNER OF THE 2025 WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTIONWINNER OF THE WINSTON GRAHAM HISTORICAL PRIZE 2025Join us this November as …
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Cooks & Books: Skye McAlpine for The Christmas Companion
Tuesday 25th November, 7pm
Skye McAlpine is the author of A Table in Venice, A Table for Friends and A Table Full of Love. Skye writes a monthly column for …
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Cooks & Books: Tim Siadatan for Padella
Wednesday 26th November, 7pm
Tim Siadatan graduated from the first intake at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen. After working at the iconic St John restaurant, he went on to work at Moro, …
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Cooks & Books: Ixta Belfrage on FUSAO ~ Brazilian Recipes
Thursday 27th November, 7pm
Described as 'one of the most influential women in food,' Ixta Belfrage began her culinary career at Ottolenghi's NOPI restaurant. She then moved to the Test …
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An Edinburgh Evening with Alexander McCall Smith
Thursday 27th November, 7pm
We are delighted to be joined by the brilliant, and perennially prolific, Alexander McCall Smith to celebrate three new novels: In The Time of Five Pumpkins, …
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Eva Meijer for Sea Now
Monday 1st December, 7pm
Eva Meijer is a philosopher, visual artist, writer and singer- songwriter. Their fiction and non-fiction has been translated into over twenty languages. Since the publication of …
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Mary's Feminist Fiction Reading Group
Tuesday 2nd December, 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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Tiny Tales ~ Our Picture Book Reading Group
Thursday 4th December, 10am
Topping & Company Booksellers present Tiny Tales, with guest author, Joseph Coelho OBE!We are so excited to welcome former Children's Laureate and Carnegie Medal winning author, …
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Queer Fiction Reading Group
Monday 8th December, 7pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS SESSION IS NOW TAKING PLACE AT JOSEPH PEARCE, 23 ELM ROW, EDINBURGH EH74AA. If you have any questions email Sanna at edinburgh@toppingbooks.co.uk. To …
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The Cocktail Diaries Book Signing with Outlander's Sam Heughan
Tuesday 9th December, 5.30pm
The Cocktail Diaries Book Signing with Outlander's Sam Heughan!Be sure to read to the end for the full details.Each event voucher purchased costs £20 and includes …
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R.F Kuang for Katabasis
Thursday 11th December, 7pm
Our event season wouldn't be complete without one or two last minute surprises - and what a surprise it is! We are thrilled to be hosting …
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Nicola Sturgeon talks Frankly
Monday 15th December, 7pm
In compelling, clear-eyed, and self-critical prose, Frankly gives us a riveting, deeply human portrait of a woman coming into her power and reflecting on her battles, …
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Queer Fiction Reading Group
Tuesday 6th January, 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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The New Frontiers: Contemporary Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Group
Thursday 8th January, 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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Rawan's Middle Eastern Fiction Reading Group
Tuesday 13th January, 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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James Muldoon for Love Machines
Thursday 15th January, 7pm
Friends. Lovers. Therapists. 'Deathbots'. Artificial intelligence is now fulfilling new roles for millions of us every single day. How are these new 'relationships' changing how we …
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Graeme Macrae Burnet for Benbecula
Monday 26th January, 7pm
Join Graeme Macrae Burnet, the Booker-shortlisted author of His Bloody Project, to celebrate Benbecula - the lastest of Polygon's Darkland Tales. On 9 July 1857, Angus …
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Nussaibah Younis in conversation with Nicola Sturgeon for Fundamentally
Monday 2nd February, 7pm
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 WOMAN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION"Wise, chilling and hilarious, profound and preposterous. The best book I've read this year on the joy, delusions, missteps …
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Grace Murray for Blank Canvas
Monday 2nd February, 7pm
'The kind of interior voice that ensnares you ... The art college campus novel I've always wanted.... Grace Murray is one of those writers who you …
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Rebecca Ferrier for The Salt Bind
Tuesday 3rd February, 7pm
'An utterly mesmerising gothic fairytale and a love letter to all the women who are marked as witches simply for being different. Wild, darkly woven and …
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Rawan's Middle Eastern Fiction Reading Group
Wednesday 4th February, 7pm
Welcome back to the Middle Eastern Fiction Reading Group! Join us as we explore powerful and complex voices from the Middle East, a region that has …
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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 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.Between a quarter and a fifth of young …
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Historian Marc Mierowsky for A Spy Amongst Us
Thursday 12th February, 7pm
Join us this February to learn the true story of Daniel Defoe and the dirty tricks which helped bring Scotland into union with England.In 1706, Edinburgh …
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Zain Rishi for Noon
Thursday 19th February, 7pm
We are thrilled to be hosting one of our own booksellers for his very first poetry pamphlet, Zain Rishi! For anyone who has had the pleasure …
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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 Holland is the author of A Fatal Crossing, The Murder Game, Murder on Lake Garda …
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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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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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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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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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