http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/ The West Port is Edinburgh’s Soho, a heady mix of booze, bosoms, bespoke tailoring and books. We run an annual book festival that plays out over 11 wonderful West Port venues, ranging from singular second-hand bookshops to crisp art spaces and whisky-scented pubs. en-gb Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:27:20 +0000 The best from Edinburgh's West Port Book Festival. yes no podcasts@westportbookfestival.org West Port Book Festival The West Port is Edinburgh’s Soho, a heady mix of booze, bosoms, bespoke tailoring and books. We run an annual book festival that plays out over 11 wonderful West Port venues, ranging from singular second-hand bookshops to crisp art spaces and whisky-scented pubs. Eleanor Thom’s début novel, The Tin-Kin, is a fictional story based on photos, artefacts and memories of Eleanor’s mother’s travelling family. Eleanor tells us about the story behind the book and the travelling culture, blending a mixture of readings, audio and chat. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/the-tin-kin-eleanor-thom/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/the-tin-kin-eleanor-thom/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:44:06 +0000 1689 no Eleanor Thom’s début novel, The Tin-Kin, is a fictional story based on photos, artefacts and memories of Eleanor’s mother’s travelling family. Eleanor tells us about the story behind the book and the travelling culture, blending a mixture of readings, audio and chat. Our second podcast features Peter Burnett, who takes us on an entertaining and illuminating trip through the curious world of crisps, inspired by his master work "The Supper Book", an annotated list of everything he ate and drank in one year. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/the-history-of-crisps-peter-burnett/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/the-history-of-crisps-peter-burnett/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:45:07 +0000 2207 no Our second podcast features Peter Burnett, who takes us on an entertaining and illuminating trip through the curious world of crisps, inspired by his master work "The Supper Book", an annotated list of everything he ate and drank in one year. Librarian by training, poet by vocation, Professor Dunn’s many achievements in poetry include the Somerset-Maugham Award winning Terry Street, Love or Nothing and the acclaimed Elegies. Reading from poems new and old, with some classic West Port accompaniment from builders outside and the odd fire engine, join Douglas as he entertains a crowded Edinburgh Books. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/douglas-dunn/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/douglas-dunn/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:48:33 +0000 2296 no Librarian by training, poet by vocation, Professor Dunn’s many achievements in poetry include the Somerset-Maugham Award winning Terry Street, Love or Nothing and the acclaimed Elegies. Reading from poems new and old, with some classic West Port accompaniment from builders outside and the odd fire engine, join Douglas as he entertains a crowded Edinburgh Books. A Halloween treat for you from the West Port - Oscar Wilde's "The Canterville Ghost", as read by multi-talented literary historian Owen Dudley Edwards. The tale takes place in an old English country house, Canterville Chase, which has just become the residence of an American gentleman, Hiram B. Otis and his family. Owen himself is an expert on fellow Irish wit Wilde, the quintessential rationalist Sherlock Holmes, and the inimitable P.G. Wodehouse. His many works include a book and play on the West Port’s very own Burke and Hare. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/the-canterville-ghost/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/the-canterville-ghost/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:49:23 +0000 3744 no A Halloween treat for you from the West Port - Oscar Wilde's "The Canterville Ghost", as read by multi-talented literary historian Owen Dudley Edwards. The tale takes place in an old English country house, Canterville Chase, which has just become the residence of an American gentleman, Hiram B. Otis and his family. Owen himself is an expert on fellow Irish wit Wilde, the quintessential rationalist Sherlock Holmes, and the inimitable P.G. Wodehouse. His many works include a book and play on the West Port’s very own Burke and Hare. In "The Book of Lost Books":http://www.birlinn.co.uk/book/details/Book-of-Lost-Books--The-9781846971235/, Stuart Kelly reaches into the recesses of history to trace books, great or perhaps otherwise, that have been lost, stolen, incinerated, abandoned or mutilated through the ages. In a sparkling event, he reads extracts which deal his own fascination with lost books, Agathon, the Greek tragic poet whose works are all lost, the lost adventures of Sir Richard Burton, and many intriguing literary titbits. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/the-book-of-lost-books/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/the-book-of-lost-books/ Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:25:13 +0000 3201 no In "The Book of Lost Books":http://www.birlinn.co.uk/book/details/Book-of-Lost-Books--The-9781846971235/, Stuart Kelly reaches into the recesses of history to trace books, great or perhaps otherwise, that have been lost, stolen, incinerated, abandoned or mutilated through the ages. In a sparkling event, he reads extracts which deal his own fascination with lost books, Agathon, the Greek tragic poet whose works are all lost, the lost adventures of Sir Richard Burton, and many intriguing literary titbits. Jim Haynes is a living legend. Flâneur, writer, publisher, founder of the Traverse Theatre, Fringe guru, former book shop owner and host to many hundreds of thousands over the years he’s spent welcoming strangers to his Parisian atelier for Sunday dinner, his is a life more spectacular than most. Join him for an hour of scintillating conversation, chaired by Edinburgh flâneur Ryan Van Winkle. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/living-legend-jim-haynes/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/living-legend-jim-haynes/ Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:51:02 +0000 3299 yes Jim Haynes is a living legend. Flâneur, writer, publisher, founder of the Traverse Theatre, Fringe guru, former book shop owner and host to many hundreds of thousands over the years he’s spent welcoming strangers to his Parisian atelier for Sunday dinner, his is a life more spectacular than most. Join him for an hour of scintillating conversation, chaired by Edinburgh flâneur Ryan Van Winkle. Author and literary editor Stuart Kelly is a closet fan of collective nouns, those brilliant and brain-bending terms that allow us to junk a dullard 'group' or 'flock' for many more interesting and apt alternatives. Author of upcoming *"Scott-land":http://www.birlinn.co.uk/book/details/Scott-land-9781846971075/* and veteran of West Port 09 with his wonderful *"Book of Lost Books":http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/the-book-of-lost-books/*, Stuart's event appeals to those who appreciate the linguistic greatness of a murder of crows. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/collective-nouns/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/collective-nouns/ Sat, 26 Jun 2010 06:16:22 +0000 1825 yes Author and literary editor Stuart Kelly is a closet fan of collective nouns, those brilliant and brain-bending terms that allow us to junk a dullard 'group' or 'flock' for many more interesting and apt alternatives. Author of upcoming *"Scott-land":http://www.birlinn.co.uk/book/details/Scott-land-9781846971075/* and veteran of West Port 09 with his wonderful *"Book of Lost Books":http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/the-book-of-lost-books/*, Stuart's event appeals to those who appreciate the linguistic greatness of a murder of crows. No-one has been as famous as Sir Walter Scott and become as forgotten. He was so popular that, if you could read in the early 19th Century, you had read Scott. And yet nowadays nobody seems to read him. Literary editor and author Stuart Kelly investigates this literary riddle in his magnificent new book *"Scott-land":http://www.birlinn.co.uk/book/details/Scott-land-9781846971075/*. By parts witty, touching and effortlessly learned, Stuart Kelly will have you rushing out the door to brush up your Ivanhoe, revisit the classic Old Mortality or feel the impulse to run up the Scott Monument. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/scottland-the-man-who-invented-a-nation/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/scottland-the-man-who-invented-a-nation/ Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:47:22 +0000 2526 yes No-one has been as famous as Sir Walter Scott and become as forgotten. He was so popular that, if you could read in the early 19th Century, you had read Scott. And yet nowadays nobody seems to read him. Literary editor and author Stuart Kelly investigates this literary riddle in his magnificent new book *"Scott-land":http://www.birlinn.co.uk/book/details/Scott-land-9781846971075/*. By parts witty, touching and effortlessly learned, Stuart Kelly will have you rushing out the door to brush up your Ivanhoe, revisit the classic Old Mortality or feel the impulse to run up the Scott Monument. We were very chuffed to announce our mystery guest was the fantastic Scottish comic book artist Frank Quitely. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with Grant Morrison on titles such as New X-Men, WE3, All-Star Superman, and Batman and Robin, as well as his work with Mark Millar on The Authority. In this event in the book lined surrounds of Edinburgh Books, Frank chats with former editor of 2000 AD, author and screenwriter David Bishop. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/mystery-guest-frank-quitely/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/mystery-guest-frank-quitely/ Sun, 27 Jun 2010 09:38:24 +0000 3066 yes We were very chuffed to announce our mystery guest was the fantastic Scottish comic book artist Frank Quitely. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with Grant Morrison on titles such as New X-Men, WE3, All-Star Superman, and Batman and Robin, as well as his work with Mark Millar on The Authority. In this event in the book lined surrounds of Edinburgh Books, Frank chats with former editor of 2000 AD, author and screenwriter David Bishop. We were delighted to host two outstanding poets in the cosy confines of Peter Bell's splendid book shop. Farmer poet Jim Carruth grew up on his family’s farm near Kilbarchan. His poems have been widely published and anthologised and his debut collection, Bovine Pastoral, was runner-up in the Callum Macdonald Memorial award. Chloe Morrish was one of the first mentees of Clydebuilt 1. Her pamphlet, Three Little Ninjas, is published by Dreadful Night Press in Glasgow. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/chloe-morrish-jim-carruth/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/chloe-morrish-jim-carruth/ Sun, 27 Jun 2010 10:20:41 +0000 3082 no We were delighted to host two outstanding poets in the cosy confines of Peter Bell's splendid book shop. Farmer poet Jim Carruth grew up on his family’s farm near Kilbarchan. His poems have been widely published and anthologised and his debut collection, Bovine Pastoral, was runner-up in the Callum Macdonald Memorial award. Chloe Morrish was one of the first mentees of Clydebuilt 1. Her pamphlet, Three Little Ninjas, is published by Dreadful Night Press in Glasgow. Ewan Morrison reads a brilliant short story from his new project, Tales from the Mall, which was part of our Saturday evening event in Edinburgh Books. Ewan worked as a film director before making his authorial début with the short story collection, The Last Book You Read and Other Stories, in 2005. His first novel, Swung, was published in 2007. Other novels are Distance (2008) and Ménage (2009). http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/ewan-morrison/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/ewan-morrison/ Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:34:56 +0000 1247 yes Ewan Morrison reads a brilliant short story from his new project, Tales from the Mall, which was part of our Saturday evening event in Edinburgh Books. Ewan worked as a film director before making his authorial début with the short story collection, The Last Book You Read and Other Stories, in 2005. His first novel, Swung, was published in 2007. Other novels are Distance (2008) and Ménage (2009). Kei Miller reads from his astonishing new collection of poems A Light Song of Light, and from his latest novel, The Last Warner Woman. Kei is a Jamaican poet and novelist who combines a velveteen voice with a playful imagination. His first collection was There is an Anger that Moves and he is editor of New Caribbean Poetry (both Carcanet, 2007). http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/kei-miller/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/kei-miller/ Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:42:45 +0000 1740 yes Kei Miller reads from his astonishing new collection of poems A Light Song of Light, and from his latest novel, The Last Warner Woman. Kei is a Jamaican poet and novelist who combines a velveteen voice with a playful imagination. His first collection was There is an Anger that Moves and he is editor of New Caribbean Poetry (both Carcanet, 2007). Whether it is a memoir, an anti-memoir or a true novel, Janice Galloway entertained our West Port audience reading from her fantastic All Made Up, the follow-up to This Is Not About Me. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/janice-galloway/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/janice-galloway/ Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:29:53 +0000 3603 no Whether it is a memoir, an anti-memoir or a true novel, Janice Galloway entertained our West Port audience reading from her fantastic All Made Up, the follow-up to This Is Not About Me. Charting her life in verse, Emily Dodd entertained the West Port crowd with her delightful mix of poetry and the odd dash of audience participation. Featuring lightbulbs, a comedy horse song, badgers and bananas, you'll be enthralled by Emily's childlike wonder with the world. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/emily-dodd/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/emily-dodd/ Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:22:09 +0000 2231 no Charting her life in verse, Emily Dodd entertained the West Port crowd with her delightful mix of poetry and the odd dash of audience participation. Featuring lightbulbs, a comedy horse song, badgers and bananas, you'll be enthralled by Emily's childlike wonder with the world. One of the most original and striking voices in modern Scottish poetry, listen to the marvellous Billy Letford as he enchants our audience with his memorable and brilliantly performed work. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/william-letford/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/william-letford/ Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:41:13 +0000 943 no One of the most original and striking voices in modern Scottish poetry, listen to the marvellous Billy Letford as he enchants our audience with his memorable and brilliantly performed work. Luke reads from The Echo Chamber, his first novel, described by Ali Smith as "Original, brilliant, inconceivable." Who are we to disagree? http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/luke-williams/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/luke-williams/ Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:40:04 +0000 1290 no Luke reads from The Echo Chamber, his first novel, described by Ali Smith as "Original, brilliant, inconceivable." Who are we to disagree? Andy Wightman reads from and discusses topics which arise from his excellent book, The Poor Had No Lawyers: Who Owns Scotland (And How They Got It). The event ranges from Donald Trump to Robert the Bruce and includes some excellent questions from the West Port audience. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/andy-wightman-the-poor-had-no-lawyers/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/andy-wightman-the-poor-had-no-lawyers/ Sun, 16 Oct 2011 10:14:37 +0000 2948 no Andy Wightman reads from and discusses topics which arise from his excellent book, The Poor Had No Lawyers: Who Owns Scotland (And How They Got It). The event ranges from Donald Trump to Robert the Bruce and includes some excellent questions from the West Port audience. Listen to 2011's winner of the Forward Prize for Best First Collection, the wonderful Rachael Boast, as she reads from her collection _Sidereal_. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/rachael-boast/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/rachael-boast/ Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:43:38 +0000 1461 no Listen to 2011's winner of the Forward Prize for Best First Collection, the wonderful Rachael Boast, as she reads from her collection _Sidereal_. Award-winning poet J.O. Morgan reads from his book-length narrative poem _Natural Mechanical_ and gives us a remixed "film trailer" version of its follow-up, _Long Cuts_. http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/j-o-morgan/ http://westportbookfestival.org/podcasts/j-o-morgan/ Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:55:43 +0000 1775 yes Award-winning poet J.O. Morgan reads from his book-length narrative poem _Natural Mechanical_ and gives us a remixed "film trailer" version of its follow-up, _Long Cuts_.