The Bookmonger Presents: Damian Barr in Conversation with Nicola Meighan at 1599 at the Royal College

The Bookmonger Presents: Damian Barr in Conversation with Nicola Meighan at 1599 at the Royal College

Celebrating the paperback launch of The Two Roberts, a week before the rest of the world gets it.

We're incredibly proud to welcome Damian Barr, award-winning writer, broadcaster, and host of the Big Scottish Book Club, for an evening celebrating the paperback release of The Two Roberts, in conversation with arts writer and broadcaster Nicola Meighan.

Arrive early, order a glass of wine from the bar, and settle in, this is an evening to savour, in the company of fellow book lovers, in one of Glasgow's most beautiful spaces.

Please note: this special event will not take place at The Bookmonger, but at the stunning 1599 at the Royal College in the heart of Glasgow, our biggest event yet, and the one we're most excited about.

Every attendee gets access to the paperback a full week before its official release on 8 October. And this is Damian's one and only Glasgow appearance for the paperback launch, he won't be appearing anywhere else in the city. If you want to see him, this is it.

About the Book

Meet Robert MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun: artists, lovers, outsiders.

Scotland, 1933. Bobby MacBryde arrives at the Glasgow School of Art and, on his very first day, meets another Robert, a quiet man with loose dark curls,  and never leaves his side. As the world edges toward war, the two painters' extraordinary talent carries them across Europe and into wartime Soho, where they become stars even as the bombs continue to fall.

Inspired by a true story, The Two Roberts is a captivating tale of devotion and obsession, art and class. It's a love letter to two nearly forgotten Scottish artists who fought to change the way the world saw them, and paid a devastating price.

Shortlisted for the Nero Book Award for Fiction, the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award for Fiction, and the Winston Graham Prize for Historical Fiction.

Praise for The Two Roberts

"Crackles with creative rebellion" — Douglas Stuart

"Brilliantly written, poignant and powerful. This is Damian Barr's chef-d'oeuvre" — Ian Rankin

"We need love stories like these. The two Roberts take up residence in your heart. Utterly absorbing" — Jackie Kay

"A novel that brims over with generosity and warmth" — Observer

About the Author

Damian Barr is an award-winning writer, broadcaster and journalist. His memoir Maggie & Me won Stonewall Writer of the Year and Sunday Times Memoir of the Year, and his debut novel, You Will Be Safe Here, was shortlisted for six major awards. In 2019, Damian brought books back to television with the Big Scottish Book Club, now in its sixth series and syndicated internationally. He holds a PhD in Creative Writing, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and ran his world-famous Literary Salon from 2008 to 2023.

About the Chair

Nicola Meighan is an arts writer and broadcaster who has presented music and arts shows on BBC Radio Scotland for over a decade, interviewing everyone from Dolly Parton to Irvine Welsh. She regularly chairs author events at Edinburgh International Book Festival, Aye Write and Bloody Scotland, and hosts the Scottish arts and culture podcast A Kick Up The Arts, which will be recorded during this very conversation.

What to Expect on the Night

• In-conversation event with Damian Barr, chaired by Nicola Meighan
• Recorded live for the A Kick Up The Arts podcast
• Audience Q&A
• Book signing
• Full bar access with drinks available for purchase from doors opening at 6:00pm
• Early access to The Two Roberts in paperback,  one week before its official release date
• The Bookmonger mobile book stand, featuring Damian's full backlist, Blind Date with a Book (pre-wrapped favourites hand-picked by Damian), and queer literature recommendations curated by Damian and The Bookmonger, plus Pride merchandise sourced by Bookishly UK.

🎟 Ticket Options (doors open 6:00pm, event begins 7:00pm)

£15 — Admission Only

£20 — Admission + Paperback Copy of The Two Roberts

£30 — Admission + Book Bundle (The Two Roberts paperback + You Will Be Safe Here + Maggie & Me)

All ticket holders with a book option will collect their copies on the night.

Supporting TIE:

10% of profits from this event will be donated to Damian's chosen charity, TIE (tie.scot), specialists in anti-prejudice education who deliver Scotland's LGBT Inclusive Education programme in schools on behalf of the Scottish Government. A cause close to the heart of this book, and to ours.  TIE will have a stall and representatives available at the event to answer any questions about their organisation and how we can support them. 

Refund Policy:

In the event of cancellation, refunds will be issued for the admission portion only. The cost of the book(s) (based on retail price) will be deducted from the total ticket price, and the books will still be yours to keep.

No refunds will be offered if the customer needs to cancel for any reason, but we will do our best to resell your seat with sufficient notice of at least 7 days.