13 August - Thursday
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Edinburgh Books
3pm
Douglas Dunn
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. Get your beautiful Scottish poetry fix from our favourite curmudgeon here.
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Owl & Lion Gallery
5pm
J. O. Morgan
J. O. Morgan has just published his book-length poem, Natural Mechanical, with CB Editions. Lyrically beautiful, it charts the self-education of Iain ‘Rocky’ Rockcliffe as he truants from school on the Isle of Skye.
‘Natural Mechanical is wonderful – a memoir written in language that is cannily involved with the ordinary miracles of childhood. By looking hard and exactly at particular things in a particular place, it speaks to everyone, everywhere’ – Andrew Motion.
J. O. has been lovingly hand-binding books for as long as he has been writing them and will be taking part in Friday’s bookbinding talk at 5pm.
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Peter Bell Books
6pm
Owen Dudley Edwards
Multi-talented literary historian Owen Dudley Edwards is an expert on Irish wit Oscar Wilde, the quintessential rationalist Sherlock Holmes, and the inimitable P.G. Wodehouse. His many works also include a book and play on the West Port’s very own Burke and Hare. Owen has promised a dramatic recitation of some of Oscar Wilde’s delectable prose, stretching his vocal chords for the female parts.
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Owl & Lion Gallery
7pm
Bookbinding Workshop
Professional bookbinder and co-founder of the Owl & Lion Gallery, Isabelle Ting, will be teaching a lucky few to make their own beautiful book using various binding techniques. The theme will be magic, so be prepared for strange goings-on. Please bring lots of interesting papers to use as book covers.
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Edinburgh Books
7.30pm
Mike Stocks and Gregory Norminton
Mike Stocks is a poet (Folly, a collection of sonnets), novelist (most recently White Man Falling followed by Down Deep) and translator (Sonnets – Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli) and is currently working on his next novel, The Melancholy School of Tango. He is also the founding editor of Anon poetry magazine.
Gregory Norminton has written several novels, the latest of which is Serious Things. He is also a short storyist, a playwright and a keen environmentalist. Who says that only women can multi-task?
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Tea Tree Tea Café
9pm
Tea Tales
You are cordially invited to an evening of tea tales, bawdy stories and racy recitations. Simply put your name down at the start of the event and you’ll be given up to 10 minutes for a performance slot (props allowed).
We’ll provide antiquarian books notable for their salacious Victorian prudishness, or bring your own discoveries. There’ll be a prize for the most amusing dramatised reading. If you’d just like to come and watch, applaud and drink tea, you’re more than welcome. There will be cakes and beverages on sale.