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Agnes Owens Literary Estate

@agnesowenslitest.bsky.social
48 followers 39 following 37 posts

Agnes Owens Literary Estate Executor: John Crosbie. Agnes Owens Literary Estate Literary Agent: Jenny Brown Associates @jennybrownagency.bsky.social

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Caustic Cover Critic @causticcovercritic.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Lemme hear you say B! (B!) O! (O!) O! (O!) Look, you get the gist
4 books
'To Smithereens' by Rosalyn Drexler
'The Membranes' by Chi Ta-Wei (trans. Ari Larissa Heinrich)
'People Like That: Collected Stories' by Agnes Owens
'Distraction' by Bruce Sterling, which I absolutely thought I already owned but can't for the life of me find anywhere
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
substack.com/@johncrosbie...
substack.com
John Crosbie (@johncrosbie)
Remembering My Sister, Irene: A Written Piece for the Agnes Owens Centenary In this centenary year for my mother,  the Scottish Author Agnes Owens, people often ask me: "Was your mother a feminist? D...
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The Agnes Owens Archive @aowensarchive.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The final three Agnes Owens reissues are out now from Polygon @birlinn.bsky.social Featuring introductions by Jenni Fagan, William Letford & Chitra Ramaswamy. Available now via our online shop.
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Thing I love about Agnes Owens is you get pages like the first one which is darkly hilarious. And then pages like the second which communicates so viscerally the panic bordering on madness you experience when you are exhausted with a newborn.
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 20/08/2026
Starting 31 Aug, BBC Radio 4: A WORKING MOTHER, by Agnes Owens (1926–2014) Ten years after WW2, our unreliable narrator Betty – arch, witty, clever – is married with children & feels trapped. While her husband, Adam, drinks and complains, Betty plots her escape… 💙📚 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - A Working Mother by Agnes Owens
Ten years after the Second World War, Betty craves freedom from domestic responsibility.
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 14/08/2026
Acknowledging Agnes Owens: a celebration of her writing & legacy 24 Sep, Glasgow – free Launch event for the Byres Road Book Festival, in collaboration with the @aowensarchive.bsky.social – with Dani Garavelli, Kirstin Innes, William Letford, & Chitra Ramaswamy www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/acknowledg...
eventbrite.co.uk
Acknowledging Agnes Owens: a celebration of her writing and legacy
Join us at the Byres Road Book Festival for a special launch evening, presented in collaboration with the Agnes Owens Archive.
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
www.the-tls.com/literature/f...
the-tls.com
No such thing as love
When Agnes Owens published her first novel, Gentlemen of the West (1984), at the age of fifty-eight, it was welcomed with enthusiasm by some of her fellow
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... Agnes Owens- Book at Bedtime Radio 4 31/08/26
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - A Working Mother by Agnes Owens
Ten years after the Second World War, Betty craves freedom from domestic responsibility.
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Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Excellent recommendation by @jacquiwine.bsky.social about a Scottish bricklayer with no future outside of booze. It reads like a book of short stories, some quite funny, but steadily, subtly grows into something more. Definitely reading more Owens soon. Willy Vlautin fans, it’s worth a look.
Cover of a book called Gentlemen of the West by Agnes Owens. The left side, slightly off center, has the name, title and blurb info; the right side shows part of a painting by Joan Eardley, a fellow Scot. The painting shows a sad woman sitting alone.
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
They both continued on, Agnes now pulling the pram as it was impossible to push and Sam carrying the sleeping baby in his arms. Scoraig eventually came into view, sitting alongside the minch. The expanse of the North Atlantic Ocean beyond and Stornoway could seen hazily in the distance.
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 16/06/2026
A Working Mother The latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast speaks to John Crosbie, the son of Agnes Owens (1926–2014). They discuss the new editions of Owens’ novels, critical acclaim versus commercial success, Owens’ legacy, the Agnes Owens Archive, & more 💙📚 www.scotswhayhae.com/post/this-wo...
scotswhayhae.com
A Working Mother: The Scots Whay Hae! Podcast Talks To John Crosbie...
For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast we spoke to John Crosbie, the son of one of Ali's favourite writers, Agnes Owens whose centenary is being marked in a number of ways, including a handsome set o...
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Alan Maxwell @anthemsprinter.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Another "books I've read this year" update. The Scottish bias continues, and this one was excellent.
Gentlemen of the West by Agnes Owens
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Mindless Ones @mindlessones.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Issue #61 of our newsletter is out now, ft. John Blanche, Andrew & Steven, the editors, Time Ships, Future Shocks, Agnes Owens, Vince Staples, Alice Oswald and more! mindless-ones.ghost.io/do-your-pare...
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Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
This just in! Extreme gratitude to @drlauravarnam.bsky.social for almost half of them and to @thehemicane.bsky.social for Sugar Run!
JONATHAN MAHLER
THE GODS OF NEW YORK
LEGOTISTS, IDEALISTS, OPPORTUNISTS, AND THE BIRTH OF THE MODERN CITY: 1986-1990

"A heady admixture of explosive plot and taut, burnished prose...
Mesha Maren writes like a force of nature."
-LAUREN GROFF
SUGAR
RUN
A NOVEL
MESHA MAREN

BLACK
LITURGIES
PRAYERS, POEMS, AND MEDITATIONS FOR STAYING HUMAN
COLE ARTHUR RILEY

The church as sacred space in Middle English literature and culture
LAURA VARNAM

The Alphabet Not Unlike the World
Katrina Vandenberg
Poems

Isabelle
Baafi
Chaotic Good

DEMON
COPPERHEAD
BARBARA KINGSOLVER
WINNER
PULITZER

Introduction by
DANI GARAVELLI
Agnes Owens
Gentlemen of the West
"A moving picture of a hard surprising world which is forcing a young man to understand it and himself
ALASDAIR GRAY
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Marina Sofia @marinasofia.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Thank you @jacquiwine.bsky.social for reviewing Agnes Owens' A Working Mother and so getting me to read this strange, sad little story (but also very deadpan funny)
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Aileen Walker @aileenwalker.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
I’m reading through these newly republished Agnes Owens novellas. She’s a great writer: dark, comic wit and social observation. And gorgeous Joan Eardley paintings on the covers. More info in this Observer article : observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Four book covers by Agnes Owens: Gentleman of the West; Like Birds in the Wilderness; A Working Mother; For the Love of Willie
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 26/05/2026
“In contemporary reviews she was likened to Muriel Spark and Beryl Bainbridge: her books thrive on the friction between comedy and sadness.” @john-self.bsky.social on the working-class genius of Agnes Owens (1926–2014) 💙📚 observer.co.uk/culture/book...
observer.co.uk
The working-class genius of Agnes Owens | The Observer
The Scottish author’s darkly comic novels – written between shifts as a typist and cleaner – are being rediscovered 100 years after her birth
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 26/05/2026
To celebrate her centenary, Polygon is publishing new editions of Agnes Owens’ books with introductions from contemporary Scottish writers. 4 are released this month: A Working Mother; For the Love of Willie; Like Birds in the Wilderness; & Gentlemen of the West 💙📚 birlinn.co.uk/contributor/...
Nine book covers of works by Agnes Owens. The titles are:

People Like That
E-Book | Pub: 03 Sep 2026
£4.99

Jen’s Party
E-Book | Pub: 03 Sep 2026
£4.99

People Like That
Paperback | Pub: 03 Sep 2026
£8.99

Bad Attitudes
Paperback | Pub: 03 Sep 2026
£8.99

Jen’s Party
Paperback | Pub: 03 Sep 2026
£8.99

A Working Mother
Paperback | Pub: 07 May 2026
£8.99

For the Love of Willie
Paperback | Pub: 07 May 2026
£8.99

Like Birds in the Wilderness
Paperback | Pub: 07 May 2026
£8.99

Gentlemen of the West
Paperback | Pub: 07 May 2026
£8.99
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 24/05/2026
Agnes Owens: Out of the Margins Agnes Owens (1926–2014) was born 100 years ago #OTD, 24 May. This short film presents Owens as a writer shaped by working-class life, whose fiction exposed power, resisted sentimentality, & centred overlooked voices. A 🎂🧵 💙📚 1/7 www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkYR...
youtube.com
Agnes Owens: Out of the Margins
YouTube video by Alasdair Gray Archive
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Jan Carson @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
My 21st stop on the indie bookstore tour was @bigglestones.bsky.social Glasgow where bookseller Ian chose Agnes Owens’ For the Love of Willie as a favourite recommended read (am currently reading it and it’s class) #indiebooksellers #saintsandwarriors
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Alice Jolly @alicejolly.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Many, many years ago Agnes Owens taught me on the first ever Arvon course I attended. I was sick all week because I was so nervous ..... She was so warm and generous and encouraging. I love her work and I owe her for her kindness to me at that time.
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
www.thetimes.com/culture/book...
thetimes.com
This unsung writer can make you laugh and shock you on the same page
Agnes Owens is finally getting her due 100 years after her birth. Her reissued debut, Gentlemen of the West, packs in violence, revenge and a comic twist
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 13/05/2026
To celebrate her centenary, Birlinn is publishing new editions of Agnes Owens’ books with introductions from contemporary Scottish writers. Four are released this month: A Working Mother; For the Love of Willie; Like Birds in the Wilderness; & Gentlemen of the West 💙📚 birlinn.co.uk/contributor/...
birlinn.co.uk
Agnes Owens | Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher - buy books online
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Laura MacDonald @laurzzs.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Very much looking forward to giving this talk on Agnes Owens' 100th birthday! 🎂🥳 Get your free tickets and come along. ✨️
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
"In A Working Mother, Owens transforms difficulties from her own life into a glorious work of art in which nothing is quite what it seems." My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of all the Agnes Owens' books reissued by Polygon so far to mark her centenary. www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
heraldscotland.com
This brilliant Scottish author has been forgotten for far too long - that changes now
AGNES Owens famously rejected the notion of herself as a feminist author. What she meant by that, I think, is that - while her depiction of poverty…
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Kenny @kennypieper.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Hey @backlisted.bsky.social not sure if Agnes Owens has crossed your path but damn, she’s good
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 08/05/2026
“She’s writing stories about smaller areas in the West Coast, that are not a major city – urban, rural, borderland kind of spaces, and the particular desperations of those lives” —Kirstin Innes & Hayley-Jane Dawson on the life & work of Agnes Owens 💙📚 www.greatergovanhill.com/latest/in-co...
greatergovanhill.com
In conversation on writing, class, Scots and Agnes Owens — Greater Govanhill
With the release of Agnes Owens’ ‘A Working Mother’ today, introduced by novelist Kirstin Innes, we’re looking back to our recent Scots issue and our conversation with Kirsten & artist Hayley-Jane...
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 08/05/2026
To celebrate her century year, Polygon is publishing new editions of Agnes Owens’ books with specially commissioned introductions from contemporary Scottish writers. Four are released this month – including A Working Mother, published yesterday 💙📚 birlinn.co.uk/product/a-wo...
birlinn.co.uk
A Working Mother | Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher - buy books online
A Working Mother is a perfectly crafted novel that will enthral, entertain and surprise in equal measure. Our unreliable narrator, Betty – arch, witty, clever – is married with children and feels trap...
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Peter Ross @peteralanross.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Congratulations to everyone involved in the publication of the works of Agnes Owens. The first of the reissues, including Gentlemen Of The West, are out today - with introductions by Scottish writers and terrific use of Joan Eardley paintings. A beautiful set of books.
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Waterstones Argyle Street @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Discover Agnes Owens, who Alasdair Gray called the most unfairly neglected of Scottish authors, her writing brims with dark humour & sharp observations of real life. She’s being reprinted in her centenary year & we couldn’t be happier!
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
booksfromscotland.com/2026/04/agne...
booksfromscotland.com
Agnes Owens - Books from Scotland
'I can guarantee that you won’t have read anyone else like her.'
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BooksfromScotland.com @booksfromscotland.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
We are ALL IN for the next issue of BfS! Read it here: booksfromscotland.com/issue/all-in/ Lots of fab books coming out between April & June - thanks to @birlinn.bsky.social, @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social, @jonathancape.bsky.social, @pushkinpress.com, @bwpublishing.bsky.social & more!
A slate of book covers including Boyhood by David Keenan, A Working Mother by Agnes Owens, Raveheart by Graeme Armstrong, Quite Ugly One Evening by Chris Brookmyre, Enter Eddie Shakespeare by Barbara Henderson, Caledonia Screaming by Grant McPhee, Rat Race by Callum McSorley, The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley by Lindz Macleod, An Island Burning by Colin McIntyre, The Catventures of Sparky and George by Alan Windram, Everything Everyday by Hannah Lavery, Aphrodisia by Jean Menzies, Borrowed Land by Kapka Kassabova, and The Weight of Quiet Things by Arkbound
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Tickets still available .
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Paul Weller on his decades-long career in music
As he releases Weller at the BBC Volume 2, Paul Weller talks to Kirsty Wark.
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Please share birlinn.co.uk/event/agnes-...
birlinn.co.uk
Agnes Owens: A Life in Conversation & Polygon Publications Launch | Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher - buy books online
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
birlinn.co.uk/event/agnes-... Please share
birlinn.co.uk
Agnes Owens: A Life in Conversation & Polygon Publications Launch | Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher - buy books online
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The Agnes Owens Archive @aowensarchive.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Delighted to share our new short film on Agnes Owens, marking her 2026 centenary, now live on AGA’s YouTube. Discover her life, work, and legacy—or watch it on a retro TV at the Lillie Art Gallery exhibition from today!
youtube.com
Agnes Owens: Out of the Margins
YouTube video by Alasdair Gray Archive
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The Agnes Owens Archive @aowensarchive.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
On Saturday we opened Agnes Owens: Out of The Margins at Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie—the first of several centenary events. The exhibition runs 18 April–18 June 2026. Wonderful to see so many visitors attend.
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Stefan Siebert @stefansiebert.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Got a chance to see the excellent satellite exhibition by @agrayarchive.bsky.social and @aowensarchive.bsky.social The Joan Eardley pictures & this photo were the highlights for me - imagine being part of that discussion or even just being privileged to eavesdrop on those amazing writers chatting!
Photo showing 5 famous writers (who all happen to be Scottish) sitting around a table with hand written note underneath “5 unusually cheerful writers in 2009”. From left to right= Liz Lochhead, James Kelman, Tom Leonard, Alasdair Gray and Agnes Owens.
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
This book is so freaking good: black, sparse, funny, modern, it transcends descriptions of it as a working class Scottish novel. It’s making me angry all over again that Agnes Owens was so belittled and under-appreciated.
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Agnes Owens Literary Estate @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...
scotsman.com
Insider's Choice: New Scottish books to look out for in May
As well as reissues of classic novels by Agnes Owens and Neil Gunn, next month also has several treats in store for fans of Tartan Noir, writes Vikki Reilly
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 27/03/2026
Agnes Owens’ novels, novellas, & short story collections are being reissued by Birlinn in 2026, her centenary year birlinn.co.uk/contributor/...
Nine book covers of works by Agnes Owens. The titles are:

People Like That
E-Book | Pub: 03 Sep 2026
£4.99

Jen’s Party
E-Book | Pub: 03 Sep 2026
£4.99

People Like That
Paperback | Pub: 03 Sep 2026
£8.99

Bad Attitudes
Paperback | Pub: 03 Sep 2026
£8.99

Jen’s Party
Paperback | Pub: 03 Sep 2026
£8.99

A Working Mother
Paperback | Pub: 07 May 2026
£8.99

For the Love of Willie
Paperback | Pub: 07 May 2026
£8.99

Like Birds in the Wilderness
Paperback | Pub: 07 May 2026
£8.99

Gentlemen of the West
Paperback | Pub: 07 May 2026
£8.99
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A.C. Harper (he/him) @harperac.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Love this pick. Thrilled Birlinn is reprinting Agnes Owens for her centennial, keeping a brilliant backlist alive. Library ebook at max magnification for the win.
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The Agnes Owens Archive @aowensarchive.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Celebrating 100 years of Agnes Owens ✨ Out of the Margins opens 18 April at Lillie Art Gallery. Featuring archival & contemporary works, it honours Owens’ powerful, place-rooted writing and lasting impact, curated by @sorchadallas.bsky.social
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Graeme Purves @gaspurves.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
New editions to mark the centenary of the birth of the Scottish novelist Agnes Owens: #BookSky💙📚 #ScottishLiterature www.thenational.scot/news/2601424...
thenational.scot
New editions of one of Scotland’s most original but unrecognised authors reissued
YEARS of perseverance have succeeded in the reissue of works by Agnes Owens, one of Scotland’s most original but unrecognised authors.
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The Agnes Owens Archive @aowensarchive.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Centenary Agnes Owens tote with her striking quote, in typewriter-style font. Baby pink, 100% organic cotton. Features Calum Colvin photos. Limited run—pre-order now or buy at events. Link in bio.
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The Agnes Owens Archive @aowensarchive.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
📚 Pre-orders now open! 📚 Polygon’s @birlinn.bsky.social reissued Agnes Owens titles—with new introductions by @danigaravelli.bsky.social Kirsty Logan @kirstininnes.bsky.social and @heatherparry.bsky.social are in our shop. New covers by Joan Eardley. Order via link in bio!
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The Agnes Owens Archive @aowensarchive.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
📚 Agnes Owens in the Archives ✨ FREE TALK ✨ 23 Apr, 17:30–18:30 | National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh Celebrate Agnes Owens’ centenary and explore her archives with expert speakers @laurzzs.bsky.social @sorchadallas.bsky.social and Dr Colin McIlroy 🎟️ Book via Eventbrite (link in bio)
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The Agnes Owens Archive @aowensarchive.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Final event in our Milngavie programme for the Agnes Owens centenary ✨ Join a special Curator’s Tour of Out of the Margins with @sorchadallas.bsky.social 12 June, 11:00am, Lillie Art Gallery.
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Pat Byrne @patbyrne.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Writing Short Stories like Agnes Owens with Kirsten Innes - Alexandria Library Thursday mornings 7/14/21 May www.glasgowwestend.co.uk/writing-shor...
glasgowwestend.co.uk
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