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.
British Museum Lectures: Rachel King for The Tudor Heart
Tuesday 27th October, 7pm
This book tells the remarkable story of a spectacular chance find of a pendant associated with Henry VIII and his first wife Katherine of Aragon, as …
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James Crawford for The Vanishing Earth
Wednesday 28th October, 7pm
'Crawford belongs with other storyteller-explorers - strolling player-writers like Iain Sinclair, Rebecca Solnit, and Robert Macfarlane - who are stretching naturalist observation into incisive cultural inquiry …
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A Wine Tasting with Julia Harding
Thursday 29th October, 7pm
"The World Atlas of Wine is the single most important reference book on the shelf of any wine student." - Eric Asimov, New York Times"Simply superb …
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Susie Dent for Death Writ Large
Thursday 29th October, 7pm
Please note that this event is now taking place in Pilrig St Paul's / Larch.A brand-new linguistic mystery from Countdown's resident lexicographer, Susie Dent, set in …
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Emile Chabal for The Age of Hobsbawm
Friday 30th October, 7pm
Join us for an evening with Professor Emile Chabal, as he reflects on the life and intellect of one of the most influential historians of the …
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Jeremy Lee for Kitchening
Monday 2nd November, 7pm
'Gorgeous recipes in an equally gorgeous book' STANLEY TUCCI'Jeremy's simple dishes are glorious' CLAUDIA RODEN'Stuffed with tempting recipes' PRUE LEITHThis November Jeremy Lee joins us for …
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Tim Hayward for The Cocktail Hour
Tuesday 3rd November, 7pm
Tim Hayward writes for the Financial Times and is a panellist on BBC Radio 4's The Kitchen Cabinet. He won the Guild of Food Writers 'Food …
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Benoit Loiseau for The Death of the Clinic
Wednesday 4th November, 7pm
'Divergent and elaborate in the pursuit of its enthusiasms, balancing the personal and the intellectual, The Death of the Clinic is a book of hope and …
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Irvine Welsh with Len Pennie for Can Nothing Save Us?
Thursday 5th November, 7pm
A divided Las Vegas family is forced to confront the past and reckon with a dangerous future in the searing new novel from Irvine Welsh.'Welsh writes …
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Coinneach MacLeod for The Hebridean Baker: A Scottish Christmas
Thursday 5th November, 7pm
From Scotland's bestselling cookbook author, Coinneach MacLeod, this irresistible festive collection is packed with everything you need to create the ultimate Scottish Christmas. Brimming with seasonal …
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An Evening with Rick Stein
Friday 6th November, 7pm
Rick Stein has been cooking for the last 60 years. Now, for the first time, he shares his complete cookery course.With 150 classic recipes and photographed …
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Booker-Longlist 2026: Luke Kennard for Black Bag
Saturday 7th November, 7pm
'The funniest and smartest novel I've read in a while' -- Zadie Smith'A campus novel for our end times . . . Black Bag fizzes with …
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Elif Shafak for In One Brief Moment All Eternity
Monday 9th November, 7pm
PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS NOW TAKING PLACE IN THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS‘A unique and powerful voice in world literature.’ Ian McEwan‘Make place for Elif Shafak on …
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Ryan Cahill for Of Darkness and Light
Monday 9th November, 7pm
To celebrate the launch of our exclusive edition of Of Darkness and Light, we are so glad to welcome Ryan Cahill back to Edinburgh this November.He'll …
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Nick Harkaway for The Taper Man: a Novel of John Le Carre's Circus
Tuesday 10th November, 7pm
'Le Carre's legacy is in good hands - Smiley is back with a vengeance!' -- Ian Rankin'Note-perfect' -- Mick HerronNick Harkaway is the acclaimed author of …
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Former Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, for Black Coffee and Red Lipstick
Tuesday 10th November, 7pm
Alexandra Shulman is a writer and commentator. She was British Vogue's Editor-in-Chief from 1992 to 2017 and was awarded the CBE in the 2018 New Year's …
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A Wine Tasting with Noble Rot's Dan Keeling for Pick Your Bottles
Wednesday 11th November, 7pm
“The more you read, the more you want to pour a glass and taste. The ultimate dinner-party cheat sheet — just enough knowledge to sound effortlessly …
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Bonnie Garmus with Donna Ashworth for Peck & Peck
Wednesday 11th November, 7pm
Welcome to another dazzling and unforgettable novel from Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry. Hugely original, brilliantly funny and peopled with unforgettable characters, Peck …
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Tiny Tales ~ Our Picture Book Reading Group
Thursday 12th November, 10am
We are delighted to welcome award-winning author and illustrator, Catherine Rayner to Tiny Tales for the first time! Catherine's books for children have sold over two …
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Patrick DeWitt for Dodge City
Thursday 12th November, 7pm
From the Booker-shortlisted author of The Sisters Brothers comes Dodge City, a thrilling novel about a young man on an amphetamine fuelled cross-country road trip fleeing …
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An Evening With Maki & Ramen's Teddy Lee
Thursday 12th November, 7pm
Teddy Lee is the founder of Maki & Ramen. From an early age, he worked in his family's restaurant kitchens, learning not just techniques but the …
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Jonathan Coe for Lessons in Harmony
Monday 16th November, 7pm
A STUNNING, HEARTFELT NEW NOVEL ABOUT A DECADES-LONG FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN TWO COMPOSERS FROM THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE PROOF OF MY INNOCENCE, BOURNVILLE AND MIDDLE ENGLAND'My …
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Mary Lawson for Solace in Winter
Tuesday 17th November, 7pm
'Close to perfection' The Times'Exquisitely poignant' Liane MoriartyWinter in the small Canadian town of Solace is a season of hibernation. But this year, the snowfall brings …
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Jamie Gianoutsos for In Rome's Long Shadow
Tuesday 17th November, 7pm
Jamie Gianoutsos is Professor of History at Mount St. Mary's University, Maryland. Her book The Rule of Manhood won the Istvan Hont Prize for best book …
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Ragnar Jonasson in Conversation with Ian Rankin for The Body in the Bath
Wednesday 18th November, 7pm
'Jonasson is an automatic must-read for me . . . possibly the best Scandi writer working today' Lee ChildAs snow blankets Reykjavik and Christmas approaches, young …
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Alice Loxton for A History of Britain in 21 Paintings
Thursday 19th November, 7pm
Join us this November for an evening of illuminating history with the wonderful Alice Loxton. In this vibrant and insightful book, Alice travels across Britain in …
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Alix E. Harrow for The Slantwise Histories
Saturday 21st November, 7pm
Join us this November to celebrate the release of Hugo Award Winning Alix E. Harrow's new collection of short stories.Award-winning and internationally bestselling author Alix E. …
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Kate Dylan for Soul Sworn
Monday 23rd November, 7pm
"A sizzling romance and a breathlessly pacy plot. Magnificent!" - Saara El-Arifi"Soul Sworn is a cut of the knife and a wrench of the heart. . …
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Of This and Other Worlds - Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Group
Monday 23rd November, 7.15pm
For the eleventh reading group of 2026, we retell a classic children's tale with an interesting and fresh twist. Of poison.Healer Anja regularly drinks poison.Not to …
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Odyssey Translator Emily Wilson for Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea
Thursday 26th November, 7pm
Please note that this event is now taking place at Tollcross Central Hall."Emily Wilson's brilliant reconsiderations of the ancient world-through the figure of Helen of Troy, …
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Donna Ashworth for The Art of Being Easily Pleased
Friday 4th December, 7pm
'Donna Ashworth's words are sunshine for the soul. And this new collection is full of her best work.' - MATT HAIGThis November we're joined by Donna …
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British Museum Lectures: the Bayeux Tapestry
Wednesday 13th January, 7pm
This January we're joined by Sue Brunning from the British Museum to discuss the history of The Bayeux Tapestry.The British Museum have produced a number of …
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Andrew Cotter for The Owl Carver
Tuesday 9th February, 7pm
Andrew Cotter is an award-winning broadcaster and bestselling writer. Over a 25-year career, primarily with the BBC, he has led their coverage on rugby, golf, athletics …
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TJ Klune for The Stars Look Like Home
Thursday 18th February, 7.30pm
TJ Klune is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, …
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An Evening with Dame Mary Beard: Talking Classics
Wednesday 7th April, 7pm
'EastEnders for the 1st century AD... Beard's enthusiastic sense of wonder remains undimmed' THE TIMES'The rock star scholar of Ancient Rome' FINANCIAL TIMES'The reigning Queen of …
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