Events
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Are the Introverts Winning? with Marie le Conte
Unitarian Meeting Hall Brunswick Square, Bristol, United KingdomHeron Books is delighted to support this event organised by the Bristol Humanists.
Full details and tickets: https://www.meetup.com/bristol-humanists/events/305649303/
In our post-pandemic online world are we becoming more and more socially isolated? If so, what does that mean for us humans, the most social of all animals? We have evolved and are genetically pre-disposed to live in large social groups. Social interaction and cooperation is key to our 'success' and flourishing as a species. In this talk, based on a recent article in New Humanist, Marie le Conte will make the case that the pandemic, and near universal access to the internet, has just speeded up a fundamental long-term shift in our social patterns, leading to reduced social interaction.
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World Book Day
Heron Books 7a Regent Street, Bristol, United KingdomPop in to pick up your World Book Day choice!
World Book Day champions the fun of reading, because it seriously improves lives. Reading for fun is the single biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful life – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational backgrounds or their income.
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Simon Scarrow: A Death in Berlin
Bristol Central Library Deanery Road, Bristol, United KingdomA free lunchtime talk with Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author Simon Scarrow in the Reading Room at Bristol Central Library. Simon will be in conversation discussing his new book A Death in Berlin, the latest in his CI Schenke series.
Simon Scarrow is a Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author with several million copies of his books sold worldwide. After a childhood spent travelling the world, he pursued his great love of history as a teacher, before becoming a full-time writer. His books - which have sold 6 million copies - include two earlier Berlin thrillers featuring CI Schenke, BLACKOUT and DEAD OF NIGHT which was a No.2 ebook bestseller. -
Poetry in Herons: John Greening
Heron Books 7a Regent Street, Bristol, United KingdomPoetry in Herons returns!
For our March monthly poetry reading, we are delighted to welcome John Greening.
Free entry. Come for the poetry. Stay for the poetry.
Some seating. Some standing. Get in touch with us about any requirements you may have.
It is free and unticketed but it would help if you let us know that you are coming. RSVP to read@heronbooks.co.uk
John Greening is a poet, critic, editor and translator, a Bridport, Arvon and Cholmondeley winner and author of over twenty collections.
U.A.Fanthorpe (1929-2009) was one of the UK's most popular poets, but it's not well known that her writing career began in Bristol.
There has not been a new selection of her poems available for many years and John Greening will be introducing his annotated edition of her work tonight and also reading some of his own poetry.
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Harriet Baker signing Rural Hours
Heron Books 7a Regent Street, Bristol, United KingdomJoin us to celebrate the paperback publication of Rural Hours by Harriet Baker.
A Times Book of the Year 2024, not to mention a Heron Books Book of the Year. Virginia Woolf, Rosamond Lehmann and Sylvia Townsend Warner fans, this is a must read. If you are yet to become a fan of theirs, this is also a must read. We are so excited to share this book and the three authors whose lives and writing it explores with you. Harriet Baker tells the story of three very different women, each of whom moved to the countryside and was forever changed by it. We encounter them at quiet moments – pausing to look at an insect on the windowsill; jotting down a recipe; or digging for potatoes, dirt beneath their nails.
Come in to meet the author, get your copy signed and enjoy a drink with us.
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Andrew Harding: A Small, Stubborn Town in Ukraine
Clifton Library 13 Princess Victoria St, Bristol, United KingdomAndrew Harding will speak about his book, A Small, Stubborn Town In Ukraine.
The Russians are invading. But the locals have a plan.
It's March 2022 and Russian tanks are roaring across the vast, snow-dusted fields of Ukraine. Their destination: Voznesensk, a town with a small bridge that could change the course of the war. The heavily-armed Russians are expecting an easy fight - or no fight at all. After all, Voznesensk is a quiet farming town, full of pensioners. But the locals appear to have other ideas. Svetlana, a grandmother with arthritis, reacts in fury when Russian troops turn her cottage into their blood-soaked headquarters.
Andrew Harding is a British journalist and author. He has been living and working abroad as a foreign correspondent for the past 3 decades. -
Poetry in Herons: Deborah Harvey
Heron Books 7a Regent Street, Bristol, United KingdomFor our April monthly poetry reading, we are delighted to welcome Deborah Harvey.
Free entry. Come for the poetry. Stay for the poetry.
Arrive at 5pm. We'll offer you something fizzy. Usually a drink but perhaps one day it will be a sherbet fountain.
5.10-5.40ish, we'll enjoy some poetry.
5.40-6pm, finish the fizzy things and perhaps buy the poet's books.
Some seating. Some standing. Get in touch with us about any requirements you may have.
It is free and unticketed but it would help if you let us know that you are coming. RSVP to read@heronbooks.co.uk
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Dis Poetry: A Tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah
St George's, Bristol St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol, United KingdomPart of Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival 2025
Heron Books will run the bookstall at this special Bristol tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah, celebrating his extraordinary work and enduring legacy.
The event will feature readings of Zephaniah’s iconic poems by renowned figures in UK poetry, including his Poem for St Pauls performed in Bristol in 1983 for the BBC, as well as talks, personal stories and reflections from Benjamin’s friends and family members.
Come along and pay tribute to one of the most influential and remarkable poets in living memory, celebrating his immeasurable contributions to poetry, activism, nature, health and social justice.
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Emma Stonex: The Sunshine Man
Heron Books 7a Regent Street, Bristol, United KingdomA private launch of Emma Stonex's latest book, The Sunshine Man. However, if you are a particular fan please do get in touch and we'll see if we can save you a signed copy... email read@heronbooks.co.uk Pre-order a copy of The Sunshine Man here. Order Emma's first book, The Lamplighters here.
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Bristol Bookshop Crawl
Heron Books 7a Regent Street, Bristol, United KingdomFurther details to come from the great people at Bookshop Crawl. Enjoy a day of celebrating all Bristol bookshops... and get 10% off your purchases!
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Franny Moyle: The King’s Painter – signing and meet the author
Heron Books 7a Regent Street, Bristol, United KingdomCelebrating the new edition of Franny Moyle's superb book on Hans Holbein.
Please join us for a book signing and to meet the author.
This new edition has been beautifully printed with careful attention to detail, brilliant production values to show the artworks discussed and the best endpapers we have ever seen. Do come along to gaze at it, get your copy signed and meet author, cultural historian and brilliant storyteller Franny Moyle.
The event is free and unticketed. And may contain snacks.
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Poetry in Herons: Tom Sastry
Heron Books 7a Regent Street, Bristol, United KingdomPoetry in Herons returns!
For our May monthly poetry reading, we are delighted to Tom Sastry.
Free entry. Come for the poetry. Stay for the poetry.
Arrive at 5pm. We'll offer you something fizzy. Usually a drink but perhaps one day it will be a sherbet fountain.
5.10-5.40ish, we'll enjoy some poetry.
5.40-6pm, finish the fizzy things and perhaps buy the poet's books.
Some seating. Some standing. Get in touch with us about any requirements you may have.
It is free and unticketed but it would help if you let us know that you are coming. RSVP to read@heronbooks.co.uk
Tom Sastry is political, ironic, emotional, morbid and funny in all the wrong places. Poems have appeared in The Guardian and Poetry Review and been highly commended in the Forward Prize. Books have been Poetry School Book of the Year, Poetry Book Society pamphlet choice and shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Prize. Tom will be reading from his brand new collection Life Expectancy Begins To Fall published in March 2025.
