A NEW Scottish-themed book festival is to be held in central London later this year.
This November will mark the first ever Scots in London St Andrews’ Book Festival with an exciting mix of Scottish bestselling authors and debut novelists are set to appear.
Headline names already confirmed include bestselling authors Sir Alexander McCall Smith as well as Sir Ian Rankin.
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Judy Murray (below) and Andrew O’Hagan are also both set to appear while there will also be a number of events for schools and families.
The event will take place from November 25 to 30.
O’Hagan, the bestselling author of Mayflies, expressed his delight at being part of the lineup.
“Scotland is a moveable feast, and London is one of its depots,” he commented.
“It was Robert Louis Stevenson who once praised ‘a strong Scots accent of the mind,’ and I’ve listened for that accent in Piccadilly and King’s Cross as much as in Ayrshire and Edinburgh.
“Therefore, I’m delighted that there is a new Scottish festival in London, which promises to be one of the richest and most various cultural events.”
The festival will take place across a number of venues, including Scotland House in Blackfriars, St Columba’s Church and The Caledonian Club in the city’s west end.
Ticket sales will be open later this year and people should visit the website HERE for further information.
The festival is being organised by Scots in London and its chair Paul McFarland said of the event: “Building on the overwhelming success of our sold-out inaugural gala and ceilidh events, Scots in London is thrilled to be bringing this first ever St Andrew’s tide celebration of Scottish literary culture to the heart of London.
“We are delighted to be hosting some brilliant authors who we know will be popular with Scots and others in London.”
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