Book Grocer: 7-13 December

Rachel Holdsworth
By Rachel Holdsworth Last edited 147 months ago
Book Grocer: 7-13 December

Book, poetry and spoken word events in London this week

Wednesday: Literary Death Match teams up with Amnesty's Write for Rights campaign tonight at the Old Truman Brewery, as Rich Fulcher, Ed Hogan, Kate Monro and Kat Brown try to appeal to judges Iain Lee, Paul Sinha and Hephzibah Anderson (8.15pm, £8).

Tall Lighthouse Press bring four of their poets to the Southbank Centre: Helen Mort, Brendan Cleary, Graham Buchan and Joe Duggan (8pm, free).

Anne Sebba and Justine Picardie discuss Wallis Simpson and Coco Chanel at Keats House (7pm, £5).

Niki Orfanou's The Exiled Beauty is inspired by Camus and performing at the Poetry Cafe (8pm, £5).

Thursday: There may be one or two tickets left for Julian Barnes's only UK appearance this year, in aid of Freedom from Torture, at the Institute of Engineering and Technology (7.30pm, £18).

Bang Said the Gun are putting on a special at Hotel Elephant. Polar Bear, Kate Tempest, Tim Clare and David J join the regular crew of Dan Cockrill, Rob Auton, Martin Galton and Peter Hayhoe (7.30pm, £5).

Ben Fogle talks about his life and new autobiography, at Foyles Charing Cross Road (1pm, free). Later, children's author Philip Reeve signs his books (5pm).

Tom Bolton's talking about walking London's Lost Rivers for the South East London Folklore Society at The Old King's Head pub in Borough (8pm, £2.50 / £1.50).

Andrew Marr, Claire Tomalin, Howard Jacobson, John Gribben, Richard Hamblyn, Mick O'Hare, Martin Gayford, Sam Leith, Bea Vo, Simon Jenkins, John Julius Norwich and (*breathe*) Thomas Penn are all appearing at Waterstone's Gower Street's Christmas extravaganza, from 5.30pm.

Agit Disco by Stefan Szczelkun and Anomie/Bonhomie & Other Writings by Howard Slater both launch in the Studio space at Edgware Road's Showroom (6.30pm, free).

Enjoy a bit of Trinidad in Shoreditch with London Liming at Rich Mix (8pm, £7 / £5). Charlie Dark, Francesca Beard, Michael Horovitz and Sabrina Mahfouz perform the spoken word amid the tunes.

Friday: Dodo Modern Poets presents a quarter of Christmas crackers at the Poetry Cafe: Alison Winch, Jill Abram, Charlie Dupre and Patric Cunnane (8pm, £6 / £5).

Poet Sue Rose reads from her collection From the Dark Room, at Friday Night Writers in Swiss Cottage (6.30pm, free).

Amnesty hosts a night of comedy and poetry: Sara Pascoe, Attila the Stockbroker, Kate Fox, Sean Mahoney and Andrew Bailey provide some totally free entertainment as well as mince pies and mulled wine (from 5pm).

Saturday: Mimi Khalvati launches her new poetry collection at Poetry East (7.30pm, £7).

Word Expressions, a collection of writing from UK-based Cameroonian children, launches at Lewisham Library (2.30pm, free).

Children's author and illustrator Jane Ray is at Foyles Charing Cross Road to meet fans and sign books from 2pm.

Peirene Press invites you to an evening with poet David Harsent (8.15pm, £20 / £12).

Take your pick at the Poetry Cafe: Niki Orfanou tackling Camus again (8pm, £5) or Bloomsbury Voices with Stephanie Gerra and guests (8pm, £6 / £5).

Sunday: Storytellers' Club returns to the Pleasance, with Tom Bell, Aisling Bea, Jim Smallman, James Downdeswell and hosted as always by Sarah Bennetto. Plus there's a festival mini market before the show starts (from 6.30pm, show at 8pm, £8 / £5).

Neuroscientist Susan Greenfield gives the School of Life sermon on how important storytelling is to humans (11.30am, £12.50).

The excellent Jacob Sam-La Rose joins Jumoke Fashola at Jazz Verse Jukebox, alongside Tshaka Campbell and Paradox (8pm, £7).

Monday: Ali Smith, David McAlmont, Tracy Brabin, Max Wallis and Steven Appleby head to the Southbank Centre for one of London's best literary salons: Polari (7.45pm, £5).

Jenn Ashworth, Ed Siegle and Craig Taylor read from their work for the Book Stops Here Christmas party, at the Alley Cat on Denmark Street (8pm, free).

The rather excellent Glyn Maxwell is at the Compass tonight, as well as the also rather good Isobel Dixon and Simon Barraclough (7.30pm, £3).

Coffee House Poetry is all about the sea tonight, plus party and quiz (8pm, £7 / £6).

There's also a pub quiz at the Poetry Cafe from 8pm, hosted by Paul McGrane.

Tuesday: Musa Okwonga’s The King’s Will, Tanya Auclair and James Massiah perform at Poejazzi tonight, at the City Arts and Music Project (8pm, £5 / £10).

New stories performed by actors at Liar's League, all about give and take at the Phoenix (7.30pm, £5).

Try out your poetry at the Poetry Cafe's weekly open mic night, hosted by Niall O'Sullivan (7.30pm, £5 / £4).

Peter Phillips and Joy Howard read their work at Lumen (6.30pm, £5 / £4).

More SLAM! competition poetry from Farrago, plus featured poets Abraham Gibson, AF Harrold, Rachel Pantechnicon and Deanna Rodger (7pm, £6 / £5).

Follow @LondonistLit for our pick of that day’s literary events

Last Updated 07 December 2011