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6.30pm. Chaired by Stuart Kelly of Scotland on Sunday. John Cooper Clarke The HMV Picture House, 31 Lothian Road, 0844 847 1740. 6.30pm. £15. Rescheduled date for the legendary Mancunian punk poet.
Saturday 29
Glasgow ✽✽ An Audience with Celia Imrie Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street,
429 0022. 2.30pm. £12. A conversation between actresses Celia Imrie and Fidelis Morgan. Parliamo Glesga? An Italian Job with a Difference Café Sejuiced, 77 Hanson Street, 556 6733. 7–10pm. £17.50. See Fri 28.
Edinburgh FREE By Leaves We Live Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 11am–6pm. Poetry fair with stalls, displays, short talks and art magazine publishing events.
Sunday 30
Edinburgh An Afternoon Tea with Sara Sheridan Caledonian Hilton Hotel, Princes Street, 07901 555352. 2–4pm. £25 (includes afternoon tea and sparkling wine). Novelist Sara Sheridan discusses latest work The Book That Changed Your Life in aid of charity It’s Good 2 Give. Shore Poets The Store, 37 Guthrie Street, 220 2987. 7.45pm. £4 (£3). Featuring Gordon Meade, Patricia Ace and music from Gordon Ferries.
Monday 31 Edinburgh An Evening with Rob Brydon Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. 7.30pm. £15. The genial comic and actor introduces anecdotes from Small Man in a Book. See First Word, page 2. FREE Writer of the Year Awards Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. 7.30pm. A celebration of writers from East Lothian.
Tuesday 1
Glasgow Love Club: Day of the Dead The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 8–10pm. £4. proudExposure presents spoken word on the dearly departed. Part of Glasgay! & Glasgow Cabaret Festival. Edinburgh FREE Dr Livingstone’s diary, I presume? National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 2pm. Results of a restoration effort upon some handwritten Livingstonian literature.W ednesday 2 Glasgow Word Play Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. 8.30pm. £2. Open mic night with acoustic music, poetry and prose.
Edinburgh FREE The Bible in English: from John Wyclif to King James VI National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Dr Anette Hagan charts the story of the Bible in English.
Thursday 3 Edinburgh Getting Into Poetry Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £65–£70. The first of four weekly poetry appreciation sessions. FREE Once Upon a Universe Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7.30–9.30pm. The history of the universe, as told by a collective of astrophysicists and creative writers. FREE A Night in the Gutter National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 8pm. Hip literary mag Gutter introduces Brian McCabe, Elizabeth Reeder and Vicki Jarrett.
PREVIEW FESTIVAL LENNOXLOVE BOOK FESTIVAL Lennoxlove House, Haddington, Fri 4–Sun 6 Nov
Set in the East Lothian woodlands is a five-star luxury accommodation dubbed by Historic Scotland as one of the country’s ‘most ancient and notable houses’. While renowned for its golfing breaks and wedding parties, Lennoxlove (full name: ‘Lennox’s Love to Blantyre’) now plays host to Haddington’s annual literary bash. Despite competition across the month from festivals in East Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Linlithgow, Dundee and Edinburgh, Lennoxlove is more than capable of standing up to the challenge.
Opening night features a fireworks display (officially one night early); Claire Tomalin talks about the phenomenon of Charles Dickens, soon to be celebrating his 200th birthday; former Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling muses over his long career in politics with a focus on the financial woes of 2007; and Michael Morpurgo (pictured) brings his acclaimed War Horse to life in the Festival Marquee. On Saturday 5, Vivian French delivers an introduction to children’s
writing, Sarah Brown talks about her time living in No 10, Adam Hart- Davis brings us A Brief History of Time, James Naughtie looks back at his career in print and broadcast journalism, there’s a debate about the hacking scandal and James and the Giant Peach celebrates its half- century. The three-day event concludes with awkward squad parliamentarian Tam Dalyell, renaissance man John Byrne, Sally Magnusson discussing the story of urine, Tom Devine poring over Scottish history and Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson acting out stories about fairies, rodents and gruffalos. (Brian Donaldson)
Friday 4
Glasgow Jacki Rodikis Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 5.30pm. £2. Rodikis discusses her autobiography, Because You’re a Woman. Linlithgow Linlithgow Book Festival Masonic Hall, High Street, until Sun 6. Times and prices vary. Impressive line-up featuring Christopher Brookmyre, Janice Galloway, Tam Dalyell and Alan Bissett.
Haddington ✽✽ Lennoxlove Book Festival Lennoxlove House, 0844 357 7611,
until Sun 6. Times and prices vary. See preview, above.
Saturday 5 Edinburgh FREE Dionysia Press Poetry Readings Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 1.30–3.30pm. Various poets read from their new collections.
Monday 7 Edinburgh FREE Blackwell Book Quiz Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8201. 6pm. Show up by 5.45pm to test your lit knowledge in teams of up to five members.
FREE Words, Words, Words Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. 8pm. Informal readings of short pieces (2- 4 pages) by playwrights at all stages of their work. Kilmarnock Imprint: East Ayrshire Book Festival Burns Monument Centre & other venues, 01563 554300, until Mon 12. Times and prices vary. Foodie delights with Mary Contini, laughs with List agony uncle Bob Servant (see page 128) and a festival finale with Alasdair Gray.
Tuesday 8
Edinburgh FREE Dr Wendy Ugolini: Experiencing War as the ‘Enemy Other’ Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6.30pm. University of Edinburgh scholar discusses Italian- Scottish experiences in World War II.
Wednesday 9 Glasgow FREE Clare Stephen-Johnston Waterstone’s, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. Noon. Signing copies of debut novel Polls Apart. Tim Hanlon Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 5.30pm. £2. The author and sports journalist discusses A Catalan Dream: Football Artistry and Political Intrigue.
EVENTS Books
Edinburgh FREE Textual Editing in Principle and Practice National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Talk with scholars working on major editions of key Scottish authors. Kay Ryan Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7.30pm. £7 (£5). The former Poet Laureate makes a rare appearance.
Thursday 10
Glasgow Book4Book Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. 5.30–7.30pm. £5 (free). Book swap and author event for Linen Press. FREE V Campbell: Viking Gold Waterstone’s, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6–8pm. Book launch promising mead, wine and bloodthirsty mocktails. See First Writes, page 49. FREE The Poetry Club The Glasgow Art Club, 185 Bath Street, 248 5210. 6.30pm. New showcase for Glasgow’s network of poets. FREE Kirsty Logan & Michael Pederson CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7–8.30pm. The Scottish Writers’ Centre presents readings by two young writers on the Scottish scene. Edinburgh Getting Into Poetry Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £65–£70. See Thu 3. Stories on Air: Mark McQueen Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–8.30pm. £5 (£3). Sign language storytelling suitable for deaf and hearing audiences alike.
Sunday 13
Glasgow Words Per Minute The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 4–6pm. £5. Over- 18s sex-themed special of the monthly film, spoken word, music and performance night. Edinburgh Ewan McVicar and Alasdair Roberts The Pleasance Cabaret Bar, 60 Pleasance, 556 6550. 2pm. £5. A mix of folk music and storytelling. Part of the Carrying Stream Festival.
Monday 14 Edinburgh FREE Joseph Pearce’s Book Club Joseph Pearce’s, 23 Elm Row, 556 4140. 7–10pm. Monthly book club.
Tuesday 15
Edinburgh FREE An Evening of Poetry with Red Squirrel Press Blackwells, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. 6pm. Verse evening from the independent publishers.
Wednesday 16
Glasgow FREE Weegie Wednesdays The Universal, 57–59 Sauchiehall Lane, 332 8899. 7.30pm. Monthly social forum for writers, poets, publishers and booksellers. Edinburgh FREE Tall Tales and Stilettos: Muriel Spark’s Short Stories National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. 6pm. Discussion of the Miss Jean Brodie author’s work. Café Voices Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 7–9pm. £4. Storytelling, poetry and music on a theme of ‘Thorns and Roses’.
Thursday 17
Edinburgh Getting Into Poetry Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6–7.30pm. £65–£70. See Thu 3. 20 Oct–17 Nov 2011 THE LIST 53