Damian Barr and Jackie Kay at Queer Lit

Award-winning writer and broadcaster Damian Barr will be chatting with former Makar Jackie Kay about his much-anticipated new novel The Two Roberts.

The author will share the stories and inspirations behind the book – described as “profoundly moving” – reflect on queer histories, and explore the power of art, friendship and love, devotion and obsession, and class.

Known for his world-famous Literary Salon, which ran from 2008 to 2023, Damian Barr is the award-winning author of Maggie & Me and You Will Be Safe Here. His writing is insightful, moving and often sharply witty, he is also the presenter of the BBC’s Big Scottish Book Club.

Herself often heard on the airwaves, Jackie Kay is an acclaimed poet, novelist and former Makar (Scotland’s national poet), and patron of Manchester Literature Festival. Her work, including Trumpet and Red Dust Road, has won numerous awards for its emotional depth, political resonance and lyrical power. You can catch her reading at this year’s Chorlton Book Festival.

David Nichols calls The Two Roberts “epic and touching” and Patrick Gale says it’s “a full-blown treat, historical fiction that brings to life unjustly neglected figures of queer art”. Ian Rankin, meanwhile, says: “Working-class life and artistic Bohemia collide in this novel of all-consuming passion and the torture of creation. Brilliantly written, poignant and powerful. This is Damian Barr’s chef-d’oeuvre.”

Here’s the blurb: He will stay like this forever, Robert’s arm draped round him. They will be forever twenty. Scotland, 1933. Bobby MacBryde is on his way. After years grafting at Lees Boot Factory, he’s off to the Glasgow School of Art, to his future. On his first day he will meet another Robert, a quiet man with loose dark curls – and never leave his side. Together they will spend every penny and every minute devouring Glasgow – its grand bazaar, botanical gardens and a whole hidden city – all the while loving each other behind closed doors. With the world on the brink of war, their art takes them to Paris, Rome and, finally, to London. They will become stars as the bombs fall – their talent unrivalled, their parties legendary – mingling with the likes of Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and Elizabeth Smart. But the brightest stars burn fastest. At once a celebration of almost-forgotten artists MacBryde and Colquhoun, and a devastating picture of the price we pay for trying to change the way the world sees.

Copies of The Two Roberts will be available to purchase and Damian will be signing books after the event.