Book Fringe : The ALT Edition

Welcome to Book Fringe 2023: ALT Edition!

Launched over a decade ago by the Lighthouse' predecessor (Word Power), the Book Fringe is a free, community-focused celebration of reading, thinking and storytelling that runs through the bustling festival month of August.

This year we’ve teamed up with TWO other indie bookshops in Edinburgh, the lovely Argonaut and Typewronger in Leith, for a truly alternative take on a literary festival. Taking the first letter from each of our collaborating stores, it’s no accident we’ve called it the ALT edition.

What makes Book Fringe so different? Indie bookshops collaborate to share our audiences with intimate events that bring writers and readers closer together. What’s more, all Book Fringe events are FREE and don’t require tickets.

From Monday 24th you’ll find listed below all the Book Fringe events we’re hosting here at Lighthouse throughout the month of August. These events feature authors advocating for social, personal and political change, calls-to-arms to protect our natural world and delving into the history of radical acts gone by. We know you’ll find something to inspire you and hope you’ll explore all that Book Fringe has to offer across the beautiful city of Edinburgh!

Check out the Argonaut Book Fringe events here: [LINK]

Check out the Typewronger Book Fringe events here: [LINK]

Past speakers at Book Fringe have included Reni Eddo-Lodge, Alok Mennon and Terry Eagleton, Kojo Koram, Nikesh Shukla, Nancy Campbell and Aminatta Forna.

2023’s iteration of the Book Fringe will bring names such as Akwugo Emejulu, Claudia Pineiro and Chika Unigwe, as well as local authors Lynsey May, Sarah Grant, Luke Winter and Camilla Grudova, among many others.