Join Scottish-American author Douglas Stuart as he speaks with fellow Scot and award-winning actor, author, filmmaker, and activist Alan Cumming about his 2020 Booker Prize-winning debut novel Shuggie Bain on Saturday March 20 at 5 p.m. 

Shuggie Bain is a heartbreaking story of addiction, sexuality, and love. It follows the childhood of Hugh “Shuggie” Bain and his wayward, alchoholic mother Agnes, an epic portrayal of a working-class family in 1980s Glasgow. In naming Shuggie Bain the winner, the Booker Prize judges said: “We were bowled over by this first novel….It’s a desperately sad, almost-hopeful examination of family and the destructive powers of desire.”

The novel, a New York Times bestseller, is also a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel, and featured as a finalist for the National Book Award, the Kirkus Prize, the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Prize, shortlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, and the Andrew Carnegie Medal. It was named a Best Book of the Year by the Los Angeles Times, NPR, TIME, BuzzFeed, the Economist, Barnes & Noble, Kirkus Reviews, the New York Public Library, the Chicago Public Library, and the Washington Independent Review of Books.

Tickets cost $20 and include a paperback copy of the book (value $17). The first 100 people to register will receive a signed copy of the book. Online event only tickets are available for $10. The event will be held on Crowdcast and a sign-up link will be sent after ticket purchase.

Books can be picked up at Festival partner watchung booksellers in Montclair, or shipped to your home address (additional cost, select option when selecting ticket; shipping only available within the US).

Douglas Stuart is a Scottish-American author. His debut novel, Shuggie Bain, won the Booker Prize, and has been translated into 22 languages. He wrote Shuggie Bain over a ten-year period and is currently at work on his second novel, Loch Awe. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he has an MA from the Royal College of Art in London and since 2000 he has lived and worked in New York City.

Alan Cumming is a Scottish-American actor, writer, singer, filmmaker, and activist. He has won a Tony and hosted the Tonys; received multiple Golden Globe, Emmy and SAG award nominations; and is the author of six books including the #1 NYT bestselling Not My Father's Son and the upcoming memoir Baggage. He has received over 40 awards for his humanitarianism and social activism, three honorary doctorates, both the Great Scot and Icon of Scotland awards from his homeland and was made an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) for his contributions to the arts and LBGT equality.

This event is part of Succeed2gether’s Montclair Literary Festival's special series of author events, Global Voices. See all of the talks here.

Any proceeds from the festival benefit parent organization, Montclair-based non-profit Succeed2gether, which offers after-school one-on-one tutoring and enrichment classes with the aim of closing the education and opportunity gaps in Essex County, NJ. You can read more about Succeed2gether and the festival at www.succeed2gether.org.

The festival organizing committee wishes to thank its event partners, festival sponsors, and community members.


Please note that there are no refunds for this event. If you would prefer to pay by check, please contact Succeed2gether on 973-746-0553.