A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole | Edinburgh, Scotland

In May 2024, we will gather as a small group in Edinburgh, Scotland to embark on a pilgrimage centered around A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole. This pilgrimage will be led by author, culture critic, and podcaster Nichole Perkins and our days will consist of class time, walks, gentle movement, delicious food at local pubs, writing and peaceful moments for reflection. We will explore the text through the theme of grace.

WHY A DUKE BY DEFAULT? 

In A Duke by Default, Portia Hobbs can’t seem to get her life together, which is a frequent source of disappointment to her loved ones and herself. She uses an apprenticeship with Scottish sword maker Tavish Mackenzie to figure out the next steps in her life. While the inevitable romance between the two is a delightful treat, at the heart of the story is a woman recovering from debilitating self-doubt and learning to understand herself following a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis. This pilgrimage will give us a chance to think about ways we can give ourselves grace in a world of constant change and realignment. How can we give ourselves grace for our past while holding space for future mistakes and future growth?

Listen to Nichole’s recent bonus episode on Hot & Bothered!

We will participate in a variety of forms of movement on this pilgrimage. Walking is always a key piece to our pilgrimages, and on this particular pilgrimage you will also be invited to explore movement through workshops such as Scottish dance and yoga! We will walk up to 6 miles each day, sometimes on hilly terrain. The weather in the UK is notoriously variant; it might be mild and sunny, or wet and windy, sometimes all in the same day. We won’t rush our walks, but we expect to be tired at the end of each day.

• We will meet in Edinburgh in the afternoon on May 6th.

• People who have attended another Common Ground pilgrimage will receive a 5% discount on the cost of the trip.

• If you have any questions, take a look at our FAQ page, or reach out to us at commonground@notsorryproductions.com.

• Feel free to read more about physical and accessibility as it pertains to our pilgrimages here.

Edinburgh, in addition to being one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is an ideal setting for contemplating the themes of grace and change at the center of this pilgrimage. Split between the haphazard charm of its medieval “old town” and the polished elegance of its carefully laid-out, 18th-century “new town”, Edinburgh shows structural reverence for its past without allowing itself to be limited by it. Pilgrims on this trip will be working to accomplish the same feat: through gentle movement, writing, and profound conversation, they will strive to hold grace for their past selves. Just as Edinburgh has, we hope they will come to see how their past, imperfect as it may be, gives their present character.