Douglas Stuart: John of John

Celebrate Booker-Prize winning novelist Douglas Stuart’s highly-anticipated new novel, John of John – a tender and unflinching exploration of masculinity, sexuality and the silent struggle of unspoken desires in a controlling Presbyterian community on the Isle of Harris.

Glasgow-born author Douglas Stuart is the bestselling author of Shuggie Bain, and Young Mungo. He won multiple awards including the Booker Prize for Shuggie Bain and in 2025 it was selected by The Sunday Times as one of the ‘best novels of the twenty first century,’ as well as one of the ten best Booker winners of all time by the Daily Telegraph. Douglas Stuart lives in New York.

Books sales by Forum Books. The Book & Ticket offer includes a copy of John of John (RRP £20) for collection on the evening.

Chaired by writer Val McDermid.

This event is part of Right to Read, our programme across the North East in 2026 to celebrate the National Year of Reading.