Literary City

Edinburgh’s reputation as a literary city stretches back over many centuries, rooted in a rich cultural tradition that combines storytelling, scholarship and innovation. Home to the first circulating lending library in the English language, the first historical novel in the English language, and the world’s first English Literature university department, we are a city of proud literary pioneers.

 

But we’re also a living, breathing, growing City of Literature. With our calendar of world-leading literary festivals, our network of libraries, our stellar roster of publishers and our remarkable bookshops, stories are woven into the fabric of our contemporary city. 

 

Explore the links below to find out what makes us a true City of Literature.