There’s a rather eerie silence over literary London this week, but with the US election, Bonfire Night and the Lord Mayor’s Show all happening in rapid succession over the next 5 days, we suppose that this is one of those (rare?) occasions when life is more diverting than fiction. Not diverting enough? Pop into one of these events – hand-selected by your book grocer especially for you.
Tuesday: The Iris Theatre commemorates the 10th anniversary of Ted Hughes’ death with a two-week run of his dramatic translation of Euripides’ Alcestis. Starts tonight, tickets £10–£13.
Wednesday: Mo Foster, author of the novel A Blues for Shindig, set in 1950s Soho, visits North Kensington library to talk about what life was like in 1950s and ‘60s Notting Hill. Quite a bit different, we wager? 6pm, free.
Thursday: With its subtitle, ‘the indispensable guide to inspired locally owned eating and shopping establishments’ (big gasp for air), Eat.Shop.London, by Caroline Loncq, certainly sounds like it’s premised on the kind of ethos that Londonist would like. Find out more at Loncq’s reading and signing at Waterstone’s Covent Garden, 6pm, £3 tickets (redeemable against purchase of the book).
Friday: Stop in at the Women’s Library to check out Between the Covers: Women’s Magazines and Their Readers. This recently opened free exhibit charts the development and changing face of women’s magazines from the 17th century until today. What better window through which to examine society’s shifting perceptions of women? We think this bound to prove fascinating (but of course, we would).
Saturday: Handmade & Bound, an independent fair devoted to artists’ books, comics and zines is on today at the St Aloysius Social Club near Euston. Handmade is one of the obvious criteria for inclusion in the fair, but the festival is also promoting affordable artworks – not always the case at some other artists’ books events. The fair runs from 12 to 6pm (free) and will be followed by live music from 8pm to midnight.
Monday: You have your choice of events tonight, as Foyles outdoes itself not once but twice in one evening: Seamus Heaney will be in conversation with Dennis O’Driscoll at Wyndham’s Theatre to mark the publication of Stepping Stones, which is being touted as the first major book-length study of the Nobel prize–winning poet (7pm, tickets £8–£12). Meanwhile, Will Self is at the Gallery at Foyles to discuss and pay tribute to fellow psychogeographer WG Sebald (6.30pm, £5–£8).
Know of an event that belongs in the Book Grocer listings? Please e-mail us at londonist-at-gmail-dot-com.
Handmade books by Andy Malone. Photo @ Anne Sørensen.
