100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

The People's City

One City Trust
3.74 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 23 ratings, 4 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The People's City presents an evocative collection that captures the essence and diversity of Edinburgh through a tapestry of narratives. Each story, woven by renowned authors, delves into the lives of its residents, exploring themes of community, conflict, and change. The book paints a vivid portrait of the city's past and present, celebrating its rich cultural heritage.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're drawn to tales celebrating the diversity and vibrancy of Edinburgh, brought to life by well-known Scottish authors. With its rich tapestry of voices and narratives, it offers a unique glimpse into city life, exploring its people and stories through engaging and evocative storytelling.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

To celebrate Edinburgh, its literature, and more importantly, its people, Polygon and the One City Trust have brought together writers established and emerging to write about the place they call home. Based around landmarks or significant links to Edinburgh each story transports the reader to a different decade in the city's recent past.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Edinburgh, the world's first UNESCO City of Literature, is steeped in literary history. It is the birthplace of a beloved cast of fictional characters from Sherlock Holmes to Harry Potter. It is home to the Writer's Museum, where quotes from past writers pave the steps leading up to it. A city whose beauty is matched only by the intrigue of its past, and where Robert Louis Stevenson said, 'there are no stars so lovely as Edinburgh's street-lamps'.

To celebrate the city, its literature, and more importantly, its people, Polygon and the One City Trust have brought together writers – established and emerging – to write about the place they call home in The People's City.

Based around landmarks or significant links to Edinburgh, each story transports the reader to a different decade in the city's recent past. Through these stories, each author reflects on the changes, both generational and physical, in the city in which we live.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The People's City is praised for its diverse and entertaining collection of resonant stories, featuring contributions from some of Edinburgh's finest contemporary writers. The book is noted for having no weak links among its five stories and draws richly from Edinburgh's literary heritage.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781846976018

Publisher: Birlinn General

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 January 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Irvine Welsh

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 195.0mm

Weight: 164g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Nadine Aisha Jassat is the author of poetry collection Let Me Tell You This (404 Ink) and was named in Jackie Kay's International Literature Showcase Selection of 10 Compelling ethnic minority writers working in the UK.

Anne Hamilton is the author of the travel memoir, A Blonde Bengali Wife. She lives in Edinburgh with her young son.

Alexander McCall Smithis the author of the highly successfulNo. 1 Ladies' Detective Agencyseries, which has sold over twenty-five million copies. Since then he has seen his various series of books translated into over forty-six languages and become bestsellers throughout the world.

Ian Rankin is a Scottish crime writer, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels.

Sara Sheridan is the author of the Mirabelle Bevan Murder Mysteries and Where are the Women.

Also by Alexander McCall Smith

View all
  • The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
    Wayward daughters. Missing husbands. Philandering partners. Curious conmen. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only - and finest - female private detective. Her methods may not be conventional, and her manner not exactly Miss Marple, but she's got warmth, wit, and canny intuition on her side,...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Full Cupboard Of Life
    The Full Cupboard Of Life continues the delightful story of Mma Ramotswe, who remains engaged to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni following the events of the first book. Yet, she finds herself pondering when a date for the wedding will finally be set, all the while being careful not to exert too much pressure on her fiancΓ©. Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, however, has...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Miracle At Speedy Motors
    BOOK 9 IN THE BELOVED NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY SERIES The one with the poison pen letter . . . For the first time in her career as Botswana's no. 1 lady detective, Mma Ramotswe suffers a blow to her faith in the goodness of humanity (and of her neighbours in particular) when she receives a threatening letter. But she...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Tea Time For The Traditionally Built
    BOOK 10 IN THE BELOVED NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY SERIES The one where Mma Makutsi has a love rival . . . Mma Makutsi's engagement to Phuti Radiphuti has progressed smoothly so far, but suddenly there is trouble in the form of her glamorous, empty-headed rival Violet Sephotho. While solving the amorous problems of her neighbours and clients is where...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party
    As the countdown to Mma Makutsi's wedding begins, all is not as it should be at the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. While investigating unpleasant occurrences on a southern cattle-post, Mma Ramotswe, always on the side of the weak against the strong, has reason to reflect on Rule No.3 of The Principles of Private Detection: never lie to the client. Apprentice...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon
    As Botswana awaits the familiar blessing of the rains and the resumption of the eternal cycle, seismic upheaval is taking place at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Not only is Mr J. L. B. Matekoni attempting to reform himself into a modern husband, but after her marriage to Phuti Radiphuti, Mma Ramotswe's challenging but irreplaceable associate Mma Makutsi has...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Limpopo Academy Of Private Detection
    Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi have always relied on the advice of the classic guide to their trade, The Principles of Private Detection. But who is the eminent author, Mr Clovis Andersen, and what if he were to come to Botswana? That seems a very unlikely possibility, and yet... When Mr Andersen visits Botswana on holiday, he is delighted and...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Handsome Man's De Luxe CafΓ©
    Even the arrival of her baby can't hold Mma Makutsi back from success in the workplace. No sooner does she become a full partner in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agencyβ€”despite Mma Ramotswe's belated claims that she is only 'an assistant full partner'β€”she also launches a new enterprise of her own: The Handsome Man's De Luxe CafΓ©. Grace Makutsi is...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Precious and Grace
    Precious and Grace is the seventeenth book in the beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. The one with the woman who lost her past . . . Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi's friendship is tested by a curious case: a client who left Botswana thirty years ago and remembers little of her past. The quest for the truth takes...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Colours of all the Cattle
    The nineteenth book in the beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series The one with the election . . . When Ramotswe enters politics to oppose the construction of the dubious-sounding 'Big Fun Hotel', her opponent turns out to be local troublemaker, Violet Sephotho. But the general air of excitement cannot eclipse important matters of detection. Charlie, assigned a mysterious...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine
    THE SIXTEENTH BOOK IN THE BELOVED NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE SERIES The one with Mma Ramotswe's summer holiday . . . The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine follows Mma Ramotswe as she takes a break, leaving important tasks in the capable hands of Mma Makutsi, co-director of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. However, Mma Ramotswe soon finds herself interfering...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Joy and Light Bus Company
    Catch up on the latest from Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, and other favourites in this new instalment of Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. "Mma Ramotswe is a glorious creation" - Mail on Sunday Mma Ramotswe knows she is very lucky indeed. She has a loving family, good friends, and a thriving business doing what she...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today

Also by Anne Hamilton

View all
  • The Almost Truth
    When Alina's son, Fin, traces his long-absent birthfather, it's the catalyst for decades of secrets to implode in Alina's neatly ordered life. With the sudden appearance of Rory, and the ever-present pull of a very different life in Bangladesh, she's left reeling. Three relationships, all of them built on half-truths. All Alina can truly be sure of is that you...
    Paperback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Also by Ian Rankin

View all
  • Midnight and Blue
    The brand new John Rebus thriller from the iconic Number One bestseller Ian Rankin: one of the must-read books of the year. John Rebus spent his life as a detective putting Edinburgh's most deadly criminals behind bars. Now, he's going to join them... In this tense, gripping game of cat and mouse, 'The King of Crime' (Express) returns to his...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Tooth And Nail
    The third Inspector Rebus novel from the No.1 bestselling author of Midnight and Blue 'No one writes better crime novels' EVENING STANDARD LONDON IS CALLING. WILL REBUS FIND THE ANSWER? Detective Inspector John Rebus is hand-picked to help catch a serial killer down in London. The Edinburgh cop doesn't like the big city - and it doesn't seem that his...
    Paperback
    $2799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Hide And Seek
    A junkie lies dead in an Edinburgh squat, spreadeagled, cross-like on the floor, between two burned-down candles, a five-pointed star daubed on the wall above. Just another dead addictβ€”until John Rebus begins to chip away at the indifference, treachery, deceit and sleaze that lurks behind the facade of the Edinburgh familiar to tourists. Only Rebus seems to care about a...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Daggers Drawn
    Daggers Drawn is an edgy, twisted, and disturbing anthology, presenting the first Crime Writers’ Association Daggers Award retrospective. It features 19 visceral and thrilling stories from bestselling authors such as Ian Rankin, Jeffery Deaver, John Connolly, Denise Mina, John Harvey, and more. Nineteen CWA Dagger Award-winning short stories come together in this collection, showcasing the best of the best in...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2599
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Dark Remains
    Fantastic - like witnessing Scottish noir's Big Bang creation in the company of its greatest living exponent... like Maradona and Messi playing in the same team. - LEE CHILD Lawyer Bobby Carter did a lot of work for the wrong type of people. Now he's dead, and it was no accident. Besides a distraught family and a heap of powerful...
    Paperback
    $3400
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Rather Be the Devil
    Some cases never leave you. For John Rebus, forty years may have passed, but the death of beautiful, promiscuous Maria Turquand still preys on his mind. Murdered in her hotel room on the night a famous rock star and his entourage were staying there, Maria's killer has never been found. Meanwhile, the dark heart of Edinburgh remains up for grabs....
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Even Dogs in the Wild
    Retirement doesn't suit John Rebus. He wasn't made for hobbies, holidays or home improvements. Being a cop is in his blood. So when DI Siobhan Clarke asks for his help on a case, Rebus doesn't need long to consider his options. Clarke's been investigating the death of a senior lawyer whose body was found along with a threatening note. On...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The World of Ian Rankin: The Edinburgh of Inspector John Rebus - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
    Perfect for Rankin fans: Finished the novels and just want more? Dive inside Edinburgh as only John Rebus knows it. Packed with detail: Every single Rebus novel to date is referenced: can you spot them all? Poster and playlist: Comes with a poster detailing all the references and a playlist tailor-made by Ian Rankin himself of John Rebus's favourite songs...
    1000 Piece
    Jigsaw
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Complaints
    Nobody likes The Complaints - they're the cops who investigate other cops. Complaints and Conduct Department, to give them their full title, but known colloquially as 'the Dark Side', or simply The Complaints. Malcolm Fox works for The Complaints. He's just had a result and should be feeling good about himself. But he's middle-aged, sour, and unwell. He also has...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Watchman
    Bombs are exploding in the streets of London, but life seems to have planted more subtle booby-traps for Miles Flint. Miles is a spy. His job is to watch and to listen, then to report back to his superiors, nothing more. The job, affording glimpses into the most private lives of his victims, appeals to Miles. He doesn't lust after...
    Paperback
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Witch Hunt
    Interpol have tried and failed to find the terrorist, Witch. Now the combined forces of Scotland Yard and MI5 must try the impossible to prevent a major international incident. Dominic Elder carries her autograph wherever he goes. Witch is his passion, his obsession. And being retired is no bar to his willingness to restart the hunt. MI5 know that the...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Hanging Garden
    The ninth Inspector Rebus novel from the No.1 bestselling author of A SONG FOR THE DARK TIMES. 'Masterly' SUNDAY TIMES 'Ian Rankin is a genius' Lee Child DI John Rebus is hard at work on multiple cases. Not only is he on the trail of a WWII war criminal - he's also become entangled in a dangerous battle between two...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today

Also by Nadine Aisha Jassat

View all
  • The House At The Edge of The World
    Hope House is more than just a building - it's a place of magic and mystery... When Amal and her family unexpectedly inherit the enchanted clifftop home, they can't believe their luck. But their joy is short-lived when a mysterious couple arrives, claiming the house is theirs and giving Amal's family just thirty days to pack up their stuff and...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them)
    'One of those books that truly makes the world a better place.' Sophie Anderson, author of the House with Chicken LegsFrom acclaimed poet Nadine Aisha Jassat comes a gripping mystery... "Grandma Farida is losing her memory - but I'm going to help her remember a huge secret."Twelve-year-old Nyla's dad died when she was four, or that's what she's been told....
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Hidden Story of Estie Noor
    'I just devoured this spectacular story in one sitting... a future classic if I've ever read one' - Laura Noakes, author of Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star No one wanted to hear Estie's side of the story. Now she's on a mission to make sure the truth is heard . . . A page-turning mystery novel in verse about identity,...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Also by Sara Sheridan

View all
  • On Starlit Seas
    Readers love Sara Sheridan's evocative historical novels... I loved this book from start to finish. So interesting to read about women back in the 1800s being independent and finding their own way in what was mostly a man's domain! β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… Did not want to put this down but did not want it to end. Another fabulous read transporting you back...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • On Sale
    18% off
    The Fair Botanists
    'Hugely enjoyable' Ambrose Parry 'Dazzling, original and full of wonderful characters' Katie Fforde 'Seductive and sensual' Essie Fox 'Historical fiction at its best' Frances Quinn * Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches? It's the summer of 1822 and Edinburgh is abuzz with rumours of King George IV's impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a different...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Usually:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • I'm Me
    I'm Me: I'm not a princess, a pirate or a witch! I'M ME! Grown-ups, lovely Aunt Sara can pretend all she wants, but Imogen doesn't want to be a princess, a pirate, or a witch. Not today. She wants to go to the park with her aunt and play with a ball, swing higher than a tree, and eat ice-cream....
    Hardback
    $3200
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks

More from General Fiction

View all
  • The Wedding People
    'BEST READ OF THE YEAR SO FAR' THE TIMES 'BOOKS AS FUN AS THIS ONE ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN' GUARDIAN Phoebe Stone arrives at a grand beachside hotel in Rhode Island wearing her best dress and least comfortable shoes. Immediately she is mistaken for one of the wedding people β€” but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall...
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Theo of Golden
    THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING PHENOMENON'For anything to be truly good, there must be love in it. Nothing is what it's supposed to be if love is not at the core.' One morning, a stranger arrives in the town of Golden. No one knows who he is or where he came from…His name is Theo and he's arrived there by chance –...
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3499
    (5)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    On Mystic Lake
    One of the greatest storytellers of our time - Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing Annie Colwater's only child has just left home for school in England. On that same day, her husband of twenty years confesses that he's in love with a younger woman. Left alone in the beautiful California house which was once a home, Annie...
    Paperback
    $3100
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Land
    Inspired by the mapping of Ireland in the mid nineteenth century, Land, theΒ new novel from the author of Hamnet, is at once intimate and epic: a portrait of a family navigating a legacy of upheaval and loss with love and hope. On a windswept peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic, TomΓ‘s and his reluctant son,Β Liam, are working for the great...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Signed Bookplate
    New Release
    Light Wielder
    THE EPIC CONCLUSION TO METAL SLINGER, AKA THE BOOK WITH THE PLOT TWIST THAT BROKE THE INTERNET Sail the seas. Master the blade. Protect your heart. What would you do to have it all? READERS ARE GOING WILD FOR *METAL SLINGER* β€˜The BEST plot twist to ever grace my Kindle’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ β€˜The author is a mastermind. Romantasy is back!!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set
    The Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set by Brandon Sanderson is a landmark fantasy series that has captivated readers worldwide. Renowned for its innovative magic system, intricate world-building, and compelling characters, this trilogy is a must-have for any fantasy enthusiast. Immerse yourself in a world shrouded in ash, where a once-hopeful land is ruled by the tyrannical Dark Lord, known as the...
    Set
    $6499
    Elsewhere:
    $7500
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Project Hail Mary
    THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING NOVEL A BARACK OBAMA READING PICK A lone astronaut. An impossible mission. An ally he never imagined. 'The most enjoyable hard SF I have read in years' GUARDIAN 'Weir's finest work to date... This is the one book I read last year that I am certain I can recommend to anyone, no matter who, and know...
    Paperback
    $2099
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Project Hail Mary
    Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of The Martian, offers a gripping new adventure in hard science fiction. With endorsement from notable figures such as Barack Obama and a slew of five-star reviews, this novel promises a thrilling and intellectually stimulating journey. Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut, finds himself on a...
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    (4)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Deal
    Welcome to Briar U! Get ready for your newest obsession . . . Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy! Read The Deal now for the perfect fake-dating romance! She's about to make a deal with the college bad boy . . . Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    The Bookshop Detectives 3: Murder and Mojitos
    Art Deco glamour, a Cuban crime queen and a grammar-obsessed killer collide in the #1 best-selling Bookshop Detectives’ high-stakes final instalment. The Bookshop Detectives are on the case! Booksellers Garth and Eloise Sherlock (and their cowardly dog, Stevie) have been roped into hosting Murder and Mojitos, a glamorous Art Deco festival event starring Cuba’s queen of crime fiction. Between flapper...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    20% off
    The Wrath of the Fallen
    SAMKIEL AND DIANNA WILL RETURN in the next sizzling, dark romantasy series from Amber V. Nicole. EPIC. SPICY. ADDICTIVE. Embrace the darkness . . . 'If you like romantasy, read this!' RAVEN KENNEDY 'A wicked ride from beginning to heart-shattering end. Leaving me literally screaming for more' HANNAH NICOLE MAERHER 'This is perfection. Amber Nicole's Dianna is the FMC of...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Yesteryear
    A BOLD AND BITING SATIRE. WILL HAVE YOU GASPING TO THE FINAL PAGE β€” Nita Prose WICKEDLY FUNNY, BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND FRIGHTENINGLY PERCEPTIVE β€” Abigail Dean INVENTIVE, ADDICTIVE, A WILD RIDE β€” Ashley Audrain SHOT THROUGH WITH HUMOUR AND LACED WITH DARKNESS β€” Clare Mackintosh The Stepford Wives meets The Handmaid's Tale β€” Hannah Deitch My name was Natalie Heller...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.