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.
Nick Makoha for The New Carthaginians
Monday 24th February, 7.30pm
"This book, Nick Makoha has found an otherworldly, visionary voice and diction that arrest you from the first page and never let you go." ~ Jason …
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Irish Fiction Reading Group: Contemporary and Classic
Tuesday 25th February, 7pm
Fáilte romhat! Our next reading group will be Irish Fiction: Contemporary and Classic Novels. We’ll be immersing ourselves in a range of Irish novels, expanding the …
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Adrian Tchaikovsky for Shroud
Friday 28th February, 7.30pm
Please note, this is now taking place at Pilrig St Paul's / LARCH on Leith Walk. 'Thrilling, terrifying and fascinating' ~ Tim Peake, British ESA astronautArthur …
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Pamela Butchart for Diary of a Future Billionaire
Saturday 1st March, 3pm
Please note that for this event every place allows for up to two parents or guardians to accompany a child. There's no need to book additional …
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Cooks & Books: Nancy Birtwhistle's Green and Easy Kitchen
Monday 3rd March, 7.30pm
Please note, this event is now taking place at the Main Hall, Edinburgh Academy. Nancy Birtwhistle is loved for her no-nonsense guidance and down-to-earth approach on …
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Queer Reading Group
Tuesday 4th March, 7pm
To kick-start the new year, we are launching another new reading group: Queer Fiction! With Sanna as our guide, we will be immersing ourselves in a …
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Richard Overy for Rain of Ruin: Tokyo, Hiroshima, and the Surrender of Japan
Wednesday 5th March, 7.30pm
'Enemy cities were pulverized or fried to a crisp. It was something they asked for and something they got.'Richard Overy is Honorary Research Professor of History …
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Mordew's Alex Pheby for Waterblack
Thursday 6th March, 7.30pm
Author of the brilliant Mordew and Malarkoi returns with Waterblack, the monumental conclusion to Alex Pheby's Cities of the Weft trilogy.THE DEAD ARE RISING.One thousand million …
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Cooks & Books: Alexina Anatole for Sweet
Friday 7th March, 7.30pm
Ever wondered how to make a dessert extra delicious? Look no further.Alexina Anatole started her career on a trading floor in the City of London, but …
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Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Group
Monday 10th March, 7.20pm
Heading into 2025, 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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David Szalay for Flesh
Monday 10th March, 7.30pm
Chosen as a 'Best Book of 2025' by the Guardian, Observer, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail'Brilliance on every page' ~ Samantha Harvey, author of …
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Poetry Reading Group
Tuesday 11th March, 7pm
Our poetry reading group is returning for 2025! With Zain as our guide, we will be immersing ourselves in a range of exciting voices in the …
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Stephan Malinowski for The Hohenzollerns and the Nazis: A History of Collaboration
Tuesday 11th March, 7.30pm
'Stephan Malinowski's brilliant book strikes a balance between the forensic analysis of individual behaviour and a new understanding of how the toxic political culture of a …
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Cooks & Books: Anna Hedworth for Service
Wednesday 12th March, 7.30pm
"A considered use of fresh, bright flavours and produce is a constant delight throughout this lovely book. It is a beauty, and reflects Anna's soul in …
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To the Women: Wise Words Every Woman Needs with Donna Ashworth
Thursday 13th March, 7.30pm
'Powerful and comforting ... Donna's words could change your life.' ~ DAWN FRENCH'Absolutely beautiful ... whenever I'm feeling lost, I reach for Donna Ashworth's words and …
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Chris McQueer for Hermit
Thursday 13th March, 7.30pm
Chris McQueer is the acclaimed author of the short story collections Hings and HWFG. Stories from Hings were adapted for TV by Chris and shown on …
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Claudia Pineiro for Time of the Flies
Friday 14th March, 7.30pm
"Piñeiro is delightfully successful at marrying the joy of a crime novel with the intelligence, and deep characterization, of literary fiction." ~ Words Without BordersLife after …
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Pathfinding: On Walking, Motherhood and Freedom with Kerri Andrews
Monday 17th March, 7.30pm
The desire to walk is something that defines us as human beings, bringing joy and connection and freedom. But what happens to all this when we …
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Irish Fiction Reading Group: Contemporary and Classic
Tuesday 18th March, 7pm
Fáilte romhat! Our next reading group will be Irish Fiction: Contemporary and Classic Novels. We’ll be immersing ourselves in a range of Irish novels, expanding the …
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Callum McSorley for Paperboy
Tuesday 18th March, 7.30pm
Callum McSorley is a writer based in Glasgow whose short stories have appeared in Gutter Magazine, Monstrous Regiment and New Writing Scotland.Squeaky Clean was his debut …
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Lorna Tucker for BARE: On Female Homelessness
Wednesday 19th March, 7.30pm
Lorna Tucker is an artist, writer and filmmaker, who has secured her place as one of the most exciting documentary directors working today, known for tackling …
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Grace Curtis for Idolfire
Thursday 20th March, 7.30pm
"You will turn every page hoping for one hundred more."~ Hannah Kaner, Sunday Times bestselling author of GODKILLERGrace Curtis' debut Frontier, a queer space western about …
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A Walking Guide to Edinburgh's Best Buildings with Robin Ward
Sunday 23rd March, 11am
Robin Ward is an Edinburgh-based architecture critic, writer and graphic designer who was born and raised in Glasgow.He studied at Glasgow School of Art and subsequently …
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Cooks & Books: Darjeeling Express' Asma Khan for Monsoon
Monday 24th March, 7.30pm
"The soul of my cooking is the symphonic layering of vibrant flavours that work together like instruments in an orchestra." ~ Asma KhanAsma Khan is the …
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Xiaolu Guo for Call Me Ishmaelle
Wednesday 26th March, 7.30pm
I must work on a ship as a man... Yes, I must seek a new life, more adventurous than that of my fellows on this desolate …
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Heather Parry for Carrion Crow
Thursday 27th March, 7.30pm
'With Carrion Crow Heather Parry deduces an unutterable Gothic horror of class and gender from the pages of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management. A festering …
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A Walking Guide to Edinburgh's Best Buildings with Robin Ward
Sunday 30th March, 11am
Robin Ward is an Edinburgh-based architecture critic, writer and graphic designer who was born and raised in Glasgow.He studied at Glasgow School of Art and subsequently …
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Baillie Gifford prize-winner Hallie Rubenhold for Story of a Murder
Monday 31st March, 7.30pm
'A unique combination of sleuthing, storytelling and compassion.' ~ Lucy Worsley'Takes us beyond the world of Dr Crippen into the lives impacted by him and the …
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Cooks & Books: Calum Harris for Proper Healthy
Monday 31st March, 7.30pm
Calum Harris is a cook who started on Instagram in 2019 with the aim to make vegan food simple for everyone to enjoy and try. Since …
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What Is Free Speech? The History of a Dangerous Idea with Fara Dabhoiwala
Tuesday 1st April, 7.30pm
"Eye-opening, thought-provoking and deeply enjoyable, What is Free Speech? is a work of great profundity and brilliance." ~ William DalrympleFara Dabhoiwala is a Senior Research Scholar …
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Charlie Porter for Nova Scotia House
Wednesday 2nd April, 7.30pm
'A work of genius' ~ Philip Hoare'One of the best things I've read in many many years' ~ Hilton Als'Charlie Porter is doing something new: forging …
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Cooks & Books: Ottolenghi's Noor Murad for Lugma
Thursday 3rd April, 7.30pm
Bahrain-born, London-based and New York trained, Noor Murad joined the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen in 2018, where she worked as a recipe developer for Falastin and Flavour …
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Submarine's Joe Dunthorne for Children of Radium: A Buried Inheritance
Friday 4th April, 7.30pm
'A gripping story of family secrets and chemical warfare [and] a tale of one writer's search for a reliable past... Joe Dunthorne has written a contemporary …
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Queer Reading Group
Monday 7th April, 7pm
For the second installment of our Queer Fiction reading group, we will explore E.M. Forster's Maurice.With Sanna as our guide, we will be immersing ourselves in …
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Contemporary Crime Writing with Ian Rankin, Neil Lancaster, and Mari Hannah
Monday 7th April, 7.30pm
Three award-winning crime writers Ian Rankin, Neil Lancaster, and Mari Hannah join us to celebrate their latest books.Ian Rankin is a legend in his genre. The …
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Poetry Reading Group
Tuesday 8th April, 7pm
Our poetry reading group is returning for 2025! With Zain as our guide, we will be immersing ourselves in a range of exciting voices in the …
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William Coles for Lord Lucan
Wednesday 9th April, 7.30pm
The Lord Lucan Scandal: 50th Anniversary EditionA murder gone wrong. A worldwide police hunt for the killer. And a fugitive who became a legend: The 7th …
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Andrés N. Ordorica for Holy Boys
Wednesday 9th April, 7.30pm
Local author Andrés N. Ordorica joins us for his newest poetry collection Holy Boys that explores themes of masculinity, the Church, and nationhood.Andrés is a queer …
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Gareth Russell on Queen James: the Life & Loves of Britain's First King
Tuesday 15th April, 7.30pm
'Elizabeth was king,Then James was queen.' - English author (1603)Gareth Russell is an historian and broadcaster. His books include Young and Damned and Fair, The Ship …
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John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs with Ian Leslie
Wednesday 16th April, 7.30pm
"One of my favourite writers" MALCOLM GLADWELL"The first new Beatles story in decades - and the one that will make your heart burst." CAITLIN MORANIan Leslie …
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Red Pockets: An Offering with Alice Mah
Tuesday 22nd April, 7.30pm
Alice Mah is Professor of Urban and Environmental Studies at the University of Glasgow. Originally from a small town in northern British Columbia, she has a …
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Rob Cowen with Dan Richards for The North Roads
Monday 28th April, 7.30pm
"A haunting exploration of time, place and memory along the road to London-Edinburgh highway. Radical. Beautiful. Brilliant." ~ Robert MacfarlaneRob Cowen is an award-winning writer and …
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East West Street's Philippe Sands for 38 Londres Street
Tuesday 29th April, 3pm
"A true masterpiece. Utterly compelling, a staggering piece of research and beautifully written." ~ HENRY MARSHBaillie Gifford winner Philippe Sands is Professor of Public Understanding of …
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Cooks & Books: Kenji Morimoto for FERMENT
Tuesday 29th April, 7.30pm
"Kenji is a fermenting guru and this book is a masterclass in fermentation." Tim Spector"An open-hearted collection of stories, practical tips and excellent recipes." Ottolenghi Test …
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Karim Kattan for The Palace on the Higher Hill
Wednesday 30th April, 7.30pm
Winner of the 2021 Prix des Cinq Continents de la FrancophoniePalestinian author Karim Kattan was born in 1989 in Jerusalem and grew up in Bethlehem.His 2017 …
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Cooks & Books: Twelve Triangles' Emily Cuddeford & Rachel Morgan for Kitchen Table
Thursday 1st May, 7.30pm
Join us to celebrate gorgeous debut cookbook from beloved Scottish bakery, Twelve Triangles.Rachel Morgan and Emily Cuddeford fell in love with cooking and baking early in …
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The Infinite Monkey Cage's Robin Ince: Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal
Saturday 3rd May, 7.30pm
"You need Robin Ince in your life." ~ Natalie HaynesRobin Ince is a comedian, actor and writer once described by the Guardian as a 'becardiganed polymath.'He …
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Alice Vincent for Hark: How Women Listen
Tuesday 6th May, 7.30pm
Alice Vincent is the author of four books, including Why Women Grow and Rootbound: Rewilding a Life, both longlisted for the Wainwright Prize and named as …
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Joe Abercrombie for The Devils
Saturday 10th May, 7.30pm
Bestselling and Locus award-winning author Joe Abercrombie joins us for the release of his new book The Devils, a dark fantasy set in a version of …
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Adam Nicolson for Bird School
Monday 12th May, 7.30pm
Adam Nicolson is an award-winning nature writer with a deep knowledge of the Scottish landscape. Some of his notable nature works include Sea Room about the …
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Cooks & Books: Julie Lin for SAMA SAMA
Tuesday 13th May, 7.30pm
"Food has the power to stir memories, bring people together, transport you to new places, and, most importantly, take you home. Julie captures all of this …
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Renato Cisneros for The World We Saw Burning
Thursday 15th May, 7.30pm
"Who is able to recount and connect, on the basis of a chance encounter between two Peruvians in a taxi in Madrid, the uprooting of the …
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Sarah Moss for Ripeness
Monday 19th May, 7.30pm
Please note, this event is now taking place in Pilrig St Paul's / LARCH on Leith Walk. 'One of our very best contemporary novelists' ~ Independent'Moss …
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Square Haunting's Francesca Wade on Gertrude Stein
Wednesday 21st May, 7.30pm
From the author of the critically acclaimed Square Haunting comes a biography as unconventional and surprising as the life it tells...Francesca Wade is the author of …
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Gill Hornby for The Elopement ~ Jane Austen's 250th Anniversary
Tuesday 27th May, 7.30pm
2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth - and, fittingly, we are welcoming back Gill Hornby, to celebrate The Elopement, the sequel to her …
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The Lost Scottish Cult-Classic: James Robertson & Alan Taylor on Gordon M Williams' From Scenes Like These
Thursday 29th May, 7.30pm
SHORTLISTED FOR THE FIRST EVER BOOKER PRIZE'A MASTERPIECE... DEMANDS TO BE READ' - DOUGLAS STUART, AUTHOR OF SHUGGIE BAINGordon M. Williams (1934 - 2017) was born …
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Heather Darwent for A Sharp Scratch
Monday 2nd June, 7.30pm
Heather Darwent is based in Edinburgh, the setting for her Sunday Times bestselling debut, The Things We Do To Our Friends.She joins us for her second …
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Francesca Segal for Island Calling
Tuesday 3rd June, 7.30pm
Francesca Segal is an award-winning writer and journalist. She is the author of two critically acclaimed novels, The Innocents (2012) and The Awkward Age (2017), and …
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Guadalupe Nettel for The Accidentals
Wednesday 4th June, 7.30pm
Guadalupe Nettel is the author of the international award winning novels El huesped [The Guest], The Body Where I Was Born, After the Winter (Herralde Novel …
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Geoff Dyer for Homework: A Memoir
Thursday 5th June, 7.30pm
"Moving, atmospheric, truthful, perceptive and hilariously funny - I loved it: a piece of our English history, the story of a vanished time, which feels close …
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Electric Spark: the Enigma of Muriel Spark with Frances Wilson
Thursday 12th June, 7.30pm
'Frances Wilson writes books that blow your hair back' ~ KATHERINE RUNDELLA 2025 HIGHLIGHT FOR: Telegraph, Financial Times, Guardian, Observer and Scotsman.From one of our leading …
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Michael Pedersen for Muckle Flugga
Monday 16th June, 7.30pm
Michael Pedersen is a prize-winning poet and author of Boy Friends, which was a Sunday Times Critics Choice and shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish National Book …
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The Hiroshima Men: The Quest to Build the Atomic Bomb with Iain MacGregor
Tuesday 1st July, 7.30pm
"The Hiroshima Men is a meticulously researched and profoundly thought-provoking account of one of history’s most consequential events... More than just a work of history, this …
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Reframing Blackness: What's Black about "History of Art"? with Alayo Akinkugbe
Monday 14th July, 7.30pm
'Thorough, accessible, essential' ~ Katy Hessel, author of THE STORY OF ART WITHOUT MENAlayo Akinkugbe is a contributing editor and writes the column 'Black Gazes' for …
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