About The Folded Page

The Folded Page opened in March 2019 in a narrow, low-ceilinged shop on Raeburn Place in Edinburgh's Stockbridge neighbourhood. It was Nora Sutherland's idea — and, for the first six months, largely Nora's problem.

The shelves went up before the till did. The stock arrived before the shelving was finished. On the first morning, a neighbour came in to ask if we were a second-hand shop, looked at the prices, and left. We took that as a good sign.

The philosophy was simple from the start: curation over comprehensiveness. We'd rather stock 4,000 books we believe in than 40,000 we don't. Every title on the shelves has been read, considered, and chosen by someone who works here. We don't take publisher money to promote books. We don't stock something because it's on a bestseller list. We stock it because we think you should read it.

Books for people who take books seriously and don't take themselves too seriously.

The Team

Nora Sutherland

Owner & Bookseller

Nora opened The Folded Page in 2019 after twelve years working in publishing in London and a growing conviction that the books she cared about weren't reaching the readers who'd love them. She reads across everything but has a particular weakness for translated fiction, long Victorian novels, and books about birds. She is the reason the shop exists and the reason it has opinions.

Alasdair Finlay

Bookseller

Alasdair joined in 2020 and is the shop's authority on Scottish literature, crime fiction, and anything involving the sea. He is also the person most likely to talk you out of the book you came in for and into something better. He has strong views about cover design and will share them unprompted.

Marta Kowalczyk

Bookseller

Marta joined in 2021 and runs the book club and most of the author events. She reads in three languages and is the reason the shop's translated fiction section is as strong as it is. She has a gift for matching readers to books they didn't know they needed and a low tolerance for books that mistake bleakness for depth.

Bewick

Shop Cat

Bewick arrived in the winter of 2021 and has never explained himself. He is named after the engraver Thomas Bewick, sleeps on the new fiction table, and has strong opinions about which customers are allowed to pet him. He does not read, as far as we can tell, but he is present, which counts for something.

Our Values

Curation over comprehensiveness

We stock around 4,000 titles. That is a deliberate choice. Every book on our shelves has been read and chosen by someone who works here. We don't carry something because it's available or because a publisher asked us to. We carry it because we think it's worth your time.

Booksellers as readers

Everyone who works at The Folded Page reads seriously. Our recommendations come from genuine enthusiasm, not sales targets. If we press a book on you, it's because we've read it and we think you specifically should read it — not because it's this month's promotion.

Translation matters

A significant portion of our stock is translated fiction and non-fiction. We think the best literature in the world isn't all written in English, and we've tried to build a section that reflects that. Marta leads this, but it's a shop-wide commitment.

The shop is for reading

We have two small reading nooks and we make coffee. You are welcome to sit down, read the first chapter, and decide. We would rather you bought a book you're going to read than one you're going to feel guilty about. Take your time.

What We Offer

  • New Books

    Around 4,000 hand-curated new titles across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children's, and translated literature. Every title chosen by someone who works here.

  • Second-Hand Books

    A rotating selection of second-hand books, priced to move. We're selective — we only keep what we'd recommend. Bring in your old books and we'll take a look.

  • Book Club

    A monthly book club run by Marta, open to all. We read across genres and don't shy away from difficult books. Details and upcoming titles at the front desk or by email.

  • Author Events

    Regular readings, conversations, and signings in the shop. We keep the events small and the conversations real. Mailing list subscribers hear first.

  • Reading Nooks & Coffee

    Two small reading nooks at the back of the shop and a simple coffee setup. Sit down, read the first chapter, take your time. No pressure to buy.

  • Gift Wrapping & Recommendations

    Tell us who you're buying for and what they like — or what they've said they like, which is different — and we'll find something. Gift wrapping included, no extra charge.