Talks & lectures

A free, local literature festival run by West Dunbartonshire Libraries that nevertheless manages to book some big name authors for its programme of talks, signings and more unusual events. This 11th edition sees Alasdair Gray, William McIlvanney and Allan Massie join non-fiction writers Margaret Evison, Tom Devine and DA…

Hands-on advice from the experts about using binoculars and telescopes to watch wildlife. Also a chance to buy some (binoculars and/or telescopes, that is, not wildlife). All proceeds go back into the RSPB to continue conservation efforts.

Borders Writers’ Forum members look to a variety of literary sources, from poetry to prose to history, for discussion on the alluring nature of Scotland.

The 'full English' refers not to our technological, cultural or military achievements. No - we live in a country where the 'full us' proudly refers to the first meal of the day. And yet here, in that country's capital, truly excellent breakfast opportunities can be hard to find among the flavourless chains and…

The hardworking staff at Edinburgh's universities are let out for the night to share their tales about the weird, wonderful, and often very funny, world of research.

Bright Club features its usual intoxicating blend of comedy and academia as lecturers from the city's universities turn their studies into entertaining stories.

An evening of stand-up comedy and science, with Simon Watt, Bright Club, Helen Arney and some of Glasgow's funniest academics.

SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER Weekend events from 10am In the fraught atmosphere of the Cold War, Benjamin Britten’s pacifism, socialist leanings and homosexuality cast him as an outsider. Likewise, his tonal, communicative music was viewed as suspicious by his avant-garde contemporaries. We look at his remarkable work in…

SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER Weekend events from 10am In the fraught atmosphere of the Cold War, Benjamin Britten’s pacifism, socialist leanings and homosexuality cast him as an outsider. Likewise, his tonal, communicative music was viewed as suspicious by his avant-garde contemporaries. We look at his remarkable work in the…

SATURDAY 28 – SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER Weekend events from 10am In the fraught atmosphere of the Cold War, Benjamin Britten’s pacifism, socialist leanings and homosexuality cast him as an outsider. Likewise, his tonal, communicative music was viewed as suspicious by his avant-garde contemporaries. We look at his…

The 2009 Beer Writer of the Year shares his vast knowledge of the golden stuff, looking back to the time of the George Inn in South London – otherwise known as the choice pub of the Bard himself – as illuminated in Brown's latest book, Shakespeare's Local. Ticket price includes a ha' pint of some specially brewed Bookworm…

Talks, in French, about various aspects of French culture, hosted by the Institut Français.

The prestigious Caine Prize, described as Africa's leading literary award, is awarded annually for African creative writing. The £10,000 Prize is awarded for a short story by an African writer published in English, whether in Africa or elsewhere. Join us for an evening of readings from the shortlist, which will be…

Learn more about creepy crawlies on this bug spotting bonanza for National Insect Week.

Scottish football architecture has an illustrious history: Hampden was once the biggest football arena and Ibrox has the honour of hosting the first football arena disaster in 1902. Richard McBrearty talks about this as part of the More Than A Game: How Scotland Shaped World Football exhibition programme.

Choreographer and solo performer Gerhart Bonher on the making of Im (Goldenen) Schnitt I.

The children's book illustrator sits down with Vivian French to talk about the more than 200 books he's illustrator. Suitable for all ages!

An opportunity to enjoy some fine cheese and wine in the company of artists from Dumfries & Galloway and discuss things such as the Scotland-England border sculpture.

To round off our weekend celebrating all things London, join us for an evening in conversation with China Miéville. The multi-award-winning author of The Scar, The City & the City, Embassytown and London's Overthrow uncovers some of London's neglected visionary literary voices. These include Somerset Maugham…

Improve your Mandarin Chinese conversation in a small group with an experienced tutor.

'Dickensian' and 'Victorian' are two adjectives regularly attached to descriptions of 19th-century England - the former because Charles Dickens (1812-1870) covered the territory in his novels, the latter because Queen Victoria, born in 1819, reigned from 1837 to 1901. Their lives ran in parallel. Dickens married in…

Thomas Hardy is unique in being equally famous as a novelist and a poet. A physically frail country boy, he set himself on a long and effortful path to achieve success. It took him to London, which he explored thoroughly and persistently. As a result his life was divided between Dorset, where his family and his…

Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' appeared anonymously 200 years ago, made everyone laugh and was thought much too clever to be the work of a woman. In our times it has been filmed and televised so many times that we are in danger of forgetting the book, the splendour of the words on the page and the story behind the…