City's book greats put on the map

Published on Thursday 26 May 2005 12:09

A MAP of the Capital featuring places connected with famous books and authors has been drawn up as part of Edinburgh’s World City of Literature status.

It features literary figures and places such as Greyfriars Bobby, Robert Louis Stevenson’s House, the statue of Sherlock Holmes on Picardy Place and one of the cafes where JK Rowling is said to have penned her first Harry Potter book.

Intended to give book lovers a chance to explore the Capital’s rich literary heritage, the map will be launched in time for the Man Booker Prize celebrations being held in Edinburgh in June.

The map features around 25 places of interest, including libraries and organisations such as the Scottish Poetry Library, writers’ homes or places connected with writers and places where scenes from famous novels were set.

Among the places set to attract the most interest will be the Oxford Bar in Young Street, where Ian Rankin’s creation Inspector Rebus often stops for a few pints, Scotland Street, the setting of Alexander McCall Smith’s latest novel, and Princes Street, where the opening scenes of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting take place.

But the map also features some more obscure entries, such as The Luckenbooth gift shop in the Royal Mile, the site of Robert Burns’ publishers, 39 North Castle Street, where Sir Walter Scott lived and Anchor Close, where the Encyclopaedia Britannica was founded and printed.

Sophy Dale, development manager at Edinburgh UNESCO city of literature, said: "When we were trying to decide on places to put on the map, we had to be sure to pick places that people could actually go and visit or have a look at."

The map is the latest in a series of events and developments which have been organised since Edinburgh become a World City of Literature.

The Man Booker Prize award ceremony takes place in Edinburgh on June 27 at the National Museum of Scotland. The award ceremony is a forerunner to the annual book festival, which this year will see hundreds of authors from more than 30 countries descend on the Capital.

And JK Rowling earlier this month announced that the only publicity she is carrying out for the launch of the next Harry Potter book will take place in the Capital, when 70 children will meet the author at Edinburgh Castle