Kirsten Norrie An American Book of the Dead

Come along to an engaging conversation between critic and writer Stuart Kelly and the multifaceted author and artist Kirsten Norrie on Thursday, 29th May at 7pm. They will discuss her newest work, *An American Book of the Dead: A Wild West Séance*, a captivating, thought-provoking, and hauntingly profound novel. Set in the mid to late 19th century, this distinctive Acid Western draws its surreal essence not from substances but from the realm of spirits. The narrative unfolds when Ebenezer Elijah Henry, a spirit photographer, encounters a mysterious figure in his Kansas studio one eerie night. Through an unexpected séance, a strange story emerges, leading to one of the most striking photographs in history. This tale centers on Robert McGee—potentially a scalping survivor or a clever imposter—and how his iconic image was crafted by a visionary photographer already envisioning the spectacle of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.

Kirsten Norrie, also known as MacGillivray in her poetry, is a writer, artist, and musician whose creations have been featured in publications like the Guardian, the TLS, and the Scotsman, as well as on BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction and The Verb. For 2024-5, she holds the position of Judith E. Wilson Poetry Fellow at the University of Cambridge. Previously, she was an AHRC Kluge Fellow at the Library of Congress and received a writer residency from Fondation Jan Michalski in Switzerland in 2019. The MacGillivray collection is preserved at the Scottish Poetry Library. Visit her at www.kirstennorrie.com.

Stuart Kelly, a prominent Scottish critic and writer, serves as the literary editor for The Scotsman. His notable works include *The Book Of Lost Books: An Incomplete Guide To All The Books You’ll Never Read*, *Scott-Land: The Man Who Invented A Nation*, and *The Minister and the Murderer*.

– Doors open at 6:30pm, with the event commencing at 7pm. Arrive early to ensure a favorable seat.
– Tickets are priced at £3, with an additional Ticket & Book package that includes a signed edition of *An American Book of the Dead* by Kirsten Norrie.
– The bookshop offers level access, seating for events, and microphone use by speakers. If you have accessibility concerns, please reach out, and we will strive to meet your needs.
– Refund requests are considered individually; unfortunately, refunds cannot be issued