BSU at the Edinburgh Book Festival

Report from the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2025 by Sara Trevelyan.

In a well-suited, sold out space in the Edinburgh University Futures Institute, Kirstin Anderson spoke clearly and informatively about the book The Barlinnie Special Unit, including showing her appreciation for each of the contributors.

This was a well-balanced joint session featuring Kirstin and poet Lady Unchained. Kirstin shared her personal journey – how she came to teach music in prisons, how this evolved into embarking on a PhD, and onto her post in the Criminology department at Napier University.

Lady Unchained was also brilliant, her poetry powerful and moving. She shared some interesting stories about women in prison describing how they formed a supportive community behind the walls. Of course there is a lot of pain and difficult experience going on in there as well. She is committed to helping women who have gone through the prison experience have their stories heard.

During audience questions, a quite common one surfaced: “Why did the BSU close?” This was duly answered by Kirstin, but was followed by a dramatic moment when someone in the audience revealed “I was the person who closed the Special Unit down!” This was Eddie Frizzell, former Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service.

The fascinating session was followed by Kirstin signing copies of the book.