Join us for an evening with the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, who is coming to the bookshop to tell us all about his latest work, Gilgamesh: A New Verse Translation . He’ll be performing from this exhilarating translation of the ancient epic poem, in which he’s captured its timeless and immersive power.

We’re really excited to welcome him to the bookshop for this event and we’re looking forward to seeing many of you here too!

lift the lapis lazuli tablet and read of Gilgamesh – his adventures and all he endured. King above kings, most formidable presence.

Gilgamesh originated in Ancient Mesopotamia nearly 4,000 years ago, yet its themes of power, loyalty, love and loss resound with contemporary relevance. The eponymous demigod tyrannically rules the kingdom of Uruk. To establish peace, the gods create his counterpart, the wild man Enkidu, and the two embark on a series of extraordinary adventures. But after tragedy strikes, Gilgamesh sets out alone on a desperate quest for immortality leading him to the very edge of the world . . .

Simon Armitage’s fresh and propulsive version brings Gilgamesh alive as a poem. He harnesses the rhythm of its orchestrated language and conjures a sense of poetic wholeness while honouring its inherent fragmentation. Enhanced by illuminating commentary, this accomplished translation transports us right back to the origins of civilisation and storytelling.