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.
Simple Minds' Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill for Our Secrets Are The Same
Monday 20th October, 7pm
Due to high demand, the waiting list for this event is now full. If you are no longer able to attend, be sure to contact the …
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Jonathan Freedland for The Traitors Circle:
Monday 20th October, 7pm
Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist and former foreign correspondent. He was named Columnist of the Year in 2002, Commentator of the Year in 2016 and …
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Frances Tophill for A Wildflower Year
Monday 20th October, 7pm
Join us to welcome Frances Tophill, British horticulturist, author, and television presenter known for her contributions to Love Your Garden and Gardeners' World.The author of Rewild …
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Lyse Doucet for The Finest Hotel in Kabul
Tuesday 21st October, 7pm
Lyse is the BBC's Chief International Correspondent and has led BBC coverage of events ranging from the Arab Spring to the Sudanese Civil War. She first …
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Wine Tasting with Olly Smith for WINE
Tuesday 21st October, 7pm
Olly Smith is the UK's best-loved wine expert, with 18 years' presenting wine on BBC1's Saturday Kitchen. He has written about wine for the Mail on …
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Wahaca's Thomasina Miers for Mexican Table
Wednesday 22nd October, 7pm
Please note, this is now taking place at The Royal Scots Club.Cook, writer and winner of MasterChef, Thomasina Miers has made cheese in Ireland, cheffed in …
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F1 Academy's Susie Wolff for Driven
Wednesday 22nd October, 7pm
Please note, this event is now taking place at the McEwan Hall.Former racing driver and Managing Director of F1 Academy Susie Wolff lifts the bonnet on …
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Ann Cleeves for The Killing Stones
Thursday 23rd October, 7pm
'Cleeves is one of our secret chroniclers, charting a series of expertly plotted and mesmerizing crime novels' - Mick Herron, author of Slow HorsesAnn Cleeves is …
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Poetry Reading Group
Thursday 23rd October, 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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Park Seolyeon with Anton Hur for Capitalists Must Starve
Friday 24th October, 7pm
Winner of Hankyoreh Literature Award 'Hur’s taut, masterful translation wisely refuses to pander to what anglophone readers might not know, but maintains the brittle tension of …
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Alan Davies for White Male Stand-Up
Sunday 26th October, 7pm
'Davies has done it again, damn him. Irritatingly good. Maddeningly funny. Annoyingly fine.' STEPHEN FRYAlan Davies is a comedian, writer and actor, best known for starring …
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Ambrose Parry for the Final Raven and Fisher Mystery: The Death of Shame
Monday 27th October, 7pm
This autumn, we are overjoyed to welcome back Ambrose Parry to celebrate the Raven and Fisher Mysteries. The Death of Shame is the final installment in …
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Gabrielle Bates for Judas Goat
Monday 27th October, 7pm
We are so excited to be hosting the Scottish launch of Gabrielle Bates' debut poetry collection, Judas Goat. The conversation will be chaired by Jessica Widner.Gabrielle …
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Sunburn's Chloe Michelle Howarth for Heap Earth Upon It
Tuesday 28th October, 7pm
Chloe's debut novel, Sunburn, was a sensation. Shortlisted for the 2024 Polari First Book Prize, the 2024 Book of the Year: Discover Award at the British …
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Andrew Graham Dixon on Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found
Tuesday 28th October, 7pm
"This book is going to revolutionize the way we understand Vermeer. I read it slowly, feeling 'like some watcher of the skies when a new planet …
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Stephanie Garber for Alchemy of Secrets
Wednesday 29th October, 6pm
Stephanie Garber is the No. 1 Sunday Times, New York Times, and internationally bestselling author of the Caraval series and the Once Upon a Broken Heart …
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An Evening with TJ Klune
Wednesday 29th October, 7.30pm
Please note, this is taking place at Pilrig St Paul's / LARCH on Leith Walk.Join us as cosy fantasy icon TJ Klune heads to Edinburgh to …
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Poet Laureate Simon Armitage for New Cemetery
Thursday 30th October, 7pm
Poet Laureate Simon Armitage joins us for his major new collection New Cemetery.Simon Armitage CBE was born in West Yorkshire and is Professor of Poetry at …
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Joe Hill & Keith Rosson: An Evening of Horror
Thursday 30th October, 7pm
Horror superstar, and son of Stephen King, Joe Hill joins us for his first book in nine years.Joe Hill is a Sunday Times bestseller and the …
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Hamza Yassin for Homeward Bound
Friday 31st October, 7pm
Hamza Yassin is a Scottish wildlife cameraman and presenter, a skilled ornithologist and the winner of the 2022 season of Strictly Come Dancing!Born in Sudan, Hamza …
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Rahul Soni for Shrikant Verma's Magadh
Friday 31st October, 7pm
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome writer, editor and translator Rahul Soni for his translation of Shrikant Verma's (1931–1986) masterpiece Magadh.Magadh was first published in Hindi …
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Pine's Francine Toon for Bluff
Monday 3rd November, 7pm
In this corner of Fife, summer nights meant parties on wind-blown beaches, wrapped in hoodies and denim jackets, pretending you weren't cold in the stubborn evening …
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CL Clark with Hannah Kaner for Fate's Bane
Tuesday 4th November, 7pm
Award winning author, and bookseller favourite, C. L. Clark comes to Edinburgh for the release of their brand new novella; Fate's Bane. Delve in the fens …
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Rawan's Middle Eastern Fiction Reading Group
Tuesday 4th November, 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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Clare Carlisle for Transcendence for Beginners
Wednesday 5th November, 7pm
Clare Carlisle is Professor of Philosophy at King's College London, and the author of eight books on philosophy and philosophers, including Philosopher of the Heart: The …
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Andrew O'Hagan for On Friendship
Wednesday 5th November, 7pm
Andrew O'Hagan is the bestselling author of novels including Mayflies, Our Fathers and Caledonian Road. He has been nominated for the Booker Prize, was voted one …
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Tiny Tales ~ Our Picture Book Reading Group
Thursday 6th November, 10am
Topping & Company Booksellers present Tiny Tales, with special guest author, Manjeet Mann! Manjeet will join us to read from two of her award-winning picture books, …
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Mary's Feminist Fiction Reading Group
Thursday 6th November, 7pm
Welcome to our Feminist Fiction Reading Group! A place to discover and enjoy a range of titles and themes lovingly hand picked by Mary. Woven together …
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Sir Bradley Wiggins for The Chain
Thursday 6th November, 7pm
Sir Bradley Wiggins is one of the greatest cyclists the UK has produced.He won five Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship titles in a long …
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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, 7.01pm
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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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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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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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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John Crace for The Bonfire of the Insanities
Thursday 13th November, 7pm
John Crace is the Guardian's parliamentary sketch writer & columnist and the author of several books, including Taking the Lead: A Dog at Number 10, Depraved …
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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 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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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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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 …
View event details
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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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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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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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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