Books / Literary events
Succession’s Jessie Armstrong and Jon Klassen headline events celebrating Max Minerva’s 5th birthday
Bristol’s flourishing indie bookshop scene continues apace, and Max Minerva’s – which moved to bigger premises in 2022 – will be celebrating five years in business in September 2023.
Meanwhile, in the same month, its sister store in Portishead will turn one year old.
In celebration of these milestones, the shop has organised four literary events with acclaimed writers.
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Exterior, Portishead store – photo: Max Minerva’s
Firstly, creator of the beloved This is Not My Hat trilogy, the Caldecott and Kate Greenaway medal-winning author and illustrator Jon Klassen will be joining for two separate events to discuss his new book The Skull.
In it, a brave girl named Otilla is drawn towards an eerily abandoned house in which she finds a skull, beset by its own demons.
Klassen will be in store on August 21 for an afternoon read through of the book and a drawing session for children.

Jon Klassen, The Skull (Walker Books) – photo: courtesy of Max Minerva’s
Then at Aardman’s private cinema, in an evening aimed at adults and teenagers, he will be in conversation about the story – and his illustrious career – with Aardman founder Peter Lord.
On September 6 at John Wesley’s New Room, Succession’s Jesse Armstrong will be in conversation with the Guardian TV critic and author Stuart Heritage to discuss how he created one of the most acclaimed TV dramas of our time.
The pair will also look back at some of Armstrong’s extensive TV and film comedy writing output, which encompasses Peep Show, In The Loop, Smack The Pony, Four Lions, and The Thick of It.
Completing Max Minerva’s birthday festivities, Robin Ince will be continuing his ‘never-ending book tour’ of his book Bibliomaniac at the Portishead store on September 15.
Ince is a comedian, author, broadcaster and co-host of The Infinite Monkey Cage (BBC Radio 4) with Professor Brian Cox.
When the pandemic scuppered his planned stadium tour with Cox in 2021, he decided instead to tour the UK, sharing stories, reading lists and his undying love for indie bookshops.

Robin Ince, Bibliomaniac (Atlantic Books) – courtesy: Max Minerva’s
Information on all forthcoming literary events, as well as new releases, pre-orders and reading subscriptions at Max Minerva’s can be found at www.maxminervas.co.uk.
All photos: Max Minerva’s
Read more: The Bristol indie bookshop events to enhance your summer reading
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