BOOKS | Events GRAPHIC NOVEL
GRAPHIC NOVEL EMMA BEEBY, GORDON REN- NIE & TIERNEN TREVALLION Robbie Burns: Witch Hunter (Renegade Arts) ●●●●●
A fictional account of Robert Burns’ descent into mortal combat with the supernatural which begins with him being beaten to a drunk and trouserless pulp by a man whose daughter he’s deflowered probably won’t find itself on the national curriculum any time soon. Yet who will question the truth of the non-fantastical part of that summary? This new graphic novel is a fast-paced work of frantic imagination, and the suspicion is that Burns probably wouldn’t be against the layer of gleeful iconoclasm deployed. Edinburgh-based writing duo Gordon Rennie and Emma Beeby
plus artist Tiernen Trevallion are most familiar in UK comics circles for their work on long-running sci-fi anthology 2000AD (Beeby made the mainstream press last year when she became the first woman to write its flagship character, Judge Dredd), and there’s much of that publication’s trademark black humour, smart character work and inventive violence here. The use of dead cats as grenades and intruder alarms are unexpected turn-ups. To bring the Bard of Ayrshire to life as a convincing character amid
the readership’s expectations was surely a tough prospect, but Rennie and Beeby superbly handle his transition from foolish drunk snared by witches dancing a naked ritual to born-again romantic, with some clever meshing of his own works with the text. Yet, at heart, this book is a period action romp, and its lack of pretension in any other respect is part of its success. (David Pollock)
ALSO PUBLISHED
TO EDINBURGH by Valerie Gillies
Stone above storms, you rear upon the ridge: we live on your back, its crag-and-tail, spires and tenements stacked on your spine, the castle and the palace linked by one rope.
A spatchcock town, the ribcage split open like a skellie, a kipper, a guttit haddie. We wander through your windy mazes, all our voices are flags on the high street.
From the sky’s edge to the grey firth we are the city, you are within us.
Each crooked close and wynd is a busy cut on the crowded mile that takes us home in eden Edinburgh, centred on the rock, our city with your seven hills and heavens.
■ Valerie Gillies is a poet, and was the Edinburgh Makar from 2005-2008. This poem is taken from her forthcoming collection, The Cream of the Well, published by Luath Press in late Nov.
48 THE LIST 13 Nov–11 Dec 2014 48 THE LIST 13 Nov–11 Dec 2014
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication by using our ‘Add an Event’ service at list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Rebecca Monks. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 13
Scotland ✽ Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival Thu 13
Nov–Sun 30 Nov, times vary. Prices vary. Various Central Belt venues. Previously brings Scotland’s history to life in a packed programme of talks, walks, tours, teas, activities, debates, exhibitions, theatre, comedy, art, photography, family history, film, open days and much, much more that will appeal to all ages.
Glasgow FREE Gordon Brown: Meltdown Waterstones, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. 7pm. The author introduces his latest novel, Meltdown.
Edinburgh ✽ FREE Robert Louis Stevenson Day National Library
of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. Times vary. NLS do RLS with a series of special events, including a display of rare material and a look at Stevenson’s last years in Samoa with Andrew Martin. FREE Catriona Child: Writing Historic Fiction Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8218. 6.30pm. The author discusses whether writing historic fiction is different from general fiction. Part of Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival. FREE Julie Clarke: Becoming Julie Waterstones George Street, 83 George Street, 0843 290 8309. 6.30pm. The author reads from her work.
✽ Marilynne Robinson: Lila Assembly Roxy, 2 Roxburgh Place,
623 3030. 3–4pm. £9. The writer discusses her novel, Lila.
Monday 17
Glasgow FREE Gaelic Writing Group Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Series of workshops for writing in Gaelic or Scots and English. Ages 16+. Edinburgh FREE Blackwell’s Book Group Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8218. 6pm. Reading Sarah Waters’ The Little Stranger. FREE World War One Reads Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 6.30pm. Participants are encouraged to bring along their favourite WWI book.
Tuesday 18 Edinburgh FREE Yvonne McEwen: In the Company of Nurses Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. 2.30–3.30pm. Yvonne McEwen discusses her book, In the Company of Nurses. FREE In Conversation with Tony O’Neill Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson Loan, Quartermile, 229 2902. 6pm. The author and musician chats about his books. Nothing but the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6pm. £5 (£4). Poetry discussion forum looking at the work of Thomas Lux. FREE Michael Meighan Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8218. 6.30pm. The local historian discusses his work. Jo Caulfield Presents . . . The Speakeasy Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. 8pm. £6. A relaxed evening featuring a diverse bill of artists telling true stories.
Friday 14 Wednesday 19
Glasgow Read Aloud! Celebrating Commonwealth Women’s Writing Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 550 2267. 1–3pm. £2 (free). Weekly session of stories and poems.
✽ John Waters: This Filthy World Vol 2 O2 Academy. 7pm.
£25. A good dollop of bad taste, as the notorious filmmaker makes an appearance as part of Glasgay! See feature at list.co.uk.
Edinburgh Sympoetry Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6pm. £80–£130. A symposium for literary thinkers and poets alike. Caesura Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 07719 481092. 8–10pm. £5. An experimental night of poetry, performance and spoken word.
Saturday 15
Glasgow Alison Irvine: This Road is Red Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. 4–5pm. £2.50–£5. The writer discusses her novel, This Road is Red. Edinburgh Sympoetry Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 10am. £80–£130. See Fri 14. Stevenson Unbound The White Horse, 266 Canongate, 557 3512. 2–5pm. £5. Andrew C Ferguson presents some Robert Louis Stevenson tales.
Sunday 16 Edinburgh Sympoetry Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 10.30am. £80–£130. See Fri 14.
Edinburgh Sali Hughes: Pretty Honest Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. 6pm. £5 (£3). The beauty writer discusses her book, Pretty Honest: The Straight-talking Beauty Companion. FREE Stuart Allan & David Forsyth Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8218. 6.30–7.30pm. Stuart Allan and David Forsyth on Common Cause: Commonwealth Scots and the Great War. Part of Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival. Thursday 20
Glasgow FREE Sali Hughes: Pretty Honest Waterstones, 174 Argyle Street, 248 4814. 7pm. See Wed 19. St Mungo’s Mirrorball CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. £5 (smm members free). A showcase of the poetry talent on the Glasgow scene. Edinburgh Creative Writing for Beginners Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6560. 10.15am–12.45pm. £60 for four weeks (£55). See Thu 13. FREE Ian McDonough: A Witch Among the Gooseberries Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6.30pm. The launch of the writer’s latest work, A Witch Among the Gooseberries. FREE Quintin Jardine: Mathew’s Tale Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8218. 6.30pm. Quintin Jardine, on new novel Mathew’s Tale. Part of Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival. John Cooper Clarke The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 7pm. £22.50–£27.50. The legendary punk poet hauls his wit on tour.