London Book And Poetry Events: 9-15 October 2014

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 113 months ago
London Book And Poetry Events: 9-15 October 2014

Hilary Mantel is at Southbank Centre

Ongoing

Throughout October, Footprints of London tour guides are running the Literary Footprints Festival, with over 40 author and book themed talks and walks dotted about the city.

Somewhere in a corner of south west London, Wimbledon Book Fest brings in the likes of Alexander McCall Smith, Colm Toibin and Victoria Hislop talking fiction, David Starkey (who the website refers to as Dave; we find this hilarious) and Tracy Borman for 9 days of literary goodness. 3-12 October

Kings Place is the venue for London Lit Weekend, which explores all sorts of topics from religion to rock'n'roll, poetry to crime, and money to philosophy. Buy tickets to individual events, or get a day pass for £20. 10-12 October

ArchWay With Words festival brings the likes of Charlie Higson, Will Self, Stella Duffy, Lisa Jewell and John Hegley to the area around Archway Market. 11-24 October

Thursday 9 October

STREET CAT BOB: James Bowen and Bob the cat (of street cat fame) are at Waterstones in Covent Garden signing copies of A Gift From Bob. It's a Christmassy one, don't say we didn't warn you. Free, just turn up (get there early) 12.30pm

JOHN CLEESE: The comedy legend, actor, writer and producer will be signing copies of his autobiography So, Anyway at Waterstones Piccadilly. Free, just turn up (get there early to avoid disappointment), 1pm

DUTCH COURAGE: Dutch-Moroccan writer Abdelkader Benali is at London Dutch Centre in the City for an interview about his books, his passions and his views on the everlasting problems in the Middle East. £10, prebook, 7pm

NAPOLEON: Writer Andrew Roberts and historian and novelist Simon Sebag Montefiore discuss he former's new book, Napoleon the Great, at Daunt Books in Marylebone. £8, prebook, 7pm

PORTRAITS OF INDIA: Claire Allfree, literary editor of Metro, chairs a conversation between Neel Mukherjee, author of Man Booker 2014 short-listed The Lives of Others, along with Mahesh Rao, author of The Smoke is Rising. At Waterstones Piccadilly. Free, prebook, 7pm

JULIE BURCHILL: Author, contrarian and self-declared militant feminist Julie Burchill is at Big Green Bookshop in Wood Green to discuss her new book, Unchosen; Memoirs of a Philo-Semite, with Guardian columnist Suzanne Moore. £20/£10, prebook, 7pm

MILITARY HISTORY: Author and military historian Antony Beevor is discussing his latest book The Second World War and signing copies at Dulwich Books in West Dulwich. £10/£8, prebook, 7.30pm

BANG SAID THE GUN: Expect poetry, spoken word, and an open mic at Bang Said The Gun. Tonight’s performances are by Helen Mort and Daniel Piper. At The Roebuck in Borough. £7/£5, just turn up, 8pm

POETRY: Survivors Poetry at the Poetry Cafe consists of poetry, music, variety floor spots and special guests. £3.50/2.50/1.50, just turn up, 8pm

Friday 10 October

TREVOR BROOKING: The footballing legend will be at Waterstones in Leadenhall Market signing copies of his autobiography, My Life in Football. Free, just turn up (arrive early to avoid disappointment), 12.30pm

WAR POETRY: The British Library marks a century of war poetry. Poet and writer Owen Sheers introduces an evening of readings. Special guests are Andrew Motion and Sabrina Mahfouz. The evening covers both historic work, such as that of Isaac Rosenberg, and more contemporary writing. £8/£5, prebook, 6.30pm

THREE NATIONS: Poets from three nations (New Zealand, Britain and Australia) read their work at Birkbeck University of London, in an event organised by the New Zealand Studies Network. The poets are Peter Bland, Kevin Ireland, Adrian Caesar and Paul McLoughlin. Free, prebook, 6.30pm

HILARY MANTEL: The acclaimed author is at Southbank Centre to read a complete story from her controversial collection The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher. She'll also introduce and read a first, exclusive extract from The Mirror and the Light, the final volume of her Thomas Cromwell Trilogy that begins with Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. We're surprised this one hasn't sold out already to be honest, so get in sharpish. £15-£25, prebook, 7.30pm

Saturday 11 October

JACQUELINE WILSON: The children's author is launching her 100th book, Opal Plumstead, at the Lyric Theatre. She'll be taking questions from the audience, and pre-signed books will be available to buy from Waterstones. £10.50/£6.50, prebook, 11am

BOOKS ARE MY BAG: Dulwich Books celebrates this year's Books Are My Bag campaign with a day of events at the shop. The first 100 customers will receive a free Tracey Emin tote bag and free books, and authors and poets will be popping in throughout the day. Free, just turn up, 11am-3pm Foyles on Charing Cross Road and in Royal Festival Hall also have a Big Bookshop Party going on, with various events (prebooking required) including storytelling with the Roald Dahl Museum. From 11am

CINEMA BOOKSTALL: The Cinema Museum in Kennington opens its doors for a bookstall, selling books, magazines, stills, films, equipment and other items surplus to requirements. Free, just turn up, 2pm-5pm

DYLAN THOMAS: Head to Keats House in Hampstead for an afternoon of poetry celebrating the centenary of the birth of Dylan Thomas. Free with admission to Keats House, just turn up, 3pm

CRYPT POETRY: Poetry in the Crypt is an occasional reading series which takes place in the crypt below St Mary's church on Upper Street, Islington. Expect readings by translators and editors Peter Daniels, Emily Jeremiah and Paul McLoughlin. £4, just turn up, 7pm

BURROUGHS: The 100th anniversary of the birth of satirical US writer William S Burroughs is celebrated at Southbank Centre, with an evening of evening of art, music, film, song and testimony £15/£25, prebook, 7.30pm

Sunday 12 October

PENNY READINGS: Head to the Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre for The London Penny Readings. The event, which celebrates the triumph and struggles of human life,  follows on from the Victorian tradition where people could listen to literature being read aloud for the cost of a penny. Readers include writer and patron of The Reader Organisation Erwin James and Frank Heweston, Greenpeace activist. Free, prebook, 5pm

AFRICA39: A selection of 39 promising writers under 40 from Africa south of the Sahara and diaspora are at Southbank Centre to launch the the Africa39 anthology book. Writers present include Clifton Cachagua (Kenya), Nadifa Mohamed (Somalia) and Stanley Kenani (Malawi). £8, prebook, 6pm

ELIF SHAFAK: There's a preview of Elif Shafak's new novel, The Architect's Apprentice, at Queen Elizabeth Hall on Southbank. The novel is set in a 16th-century Istanbul bursting with colour, romance and white elephants. £8, prebook, 6pm

TORRIANO POETS: This week’s poetry reading at Torriano Poets Meeting House in Kentish Town features Lynne Hjelmgaard and Danielle Hope. £5/£4, just turn up, 7.30pm

Monday 13 October

JAMAICAN LAUREATE: Mervyn Morris, recently appointed Poet Laureate of Jamaica, is at the British Library, joined by special guest poets John Hegley and Mimi Khalvati. £10/£7, prebook, 6.30pm

INTERNATIONAL WAR POETRY: Sir Andrew Motion is joined by Sasha Dugdale, poet and editor of MPT Magazine at Kings Place for an evening exploring international war poetry. £9.50, prebook, 7pm

ARTISTS: Art sociologist Sarah Thornton will be in conversation about her new book, 33 Artists in 3 Acts, with artist Isaac Julien at London Review Bookshop. £10, prebook, 7pm

ADULT STORYTELLING: Spark London storytelling takes over Hackney Picturehouse for an evening of stories along the theme of second chances. Listen to others, or take the chance to tell your own story. £4, prebook, 7.30pm

SHORTLISTED NOVELS: Head to Southbank Centre for readings and conversations about the shortlisted books for The Man Booker Prize. Authors on the shortlist include Karen Joy Fowler and Ali Smith. £10-£20, prebook, 7.30pm

Tuesday 14 October

MAN BOOKER: Brick Lane Bookshop hosts an alternative Man Booker Prize Party. Paul Ewen will be talking about his Booker-inspired debut novel, Francis Plug – How To Be A Public Author, in the run-up to the winner being announced. Free, prebook, 6.30pm

MOVIE BOOK: Foyles on Charing Cross Road is the venue for the launch of What I Love About Movies, the first book by the makers of movie magazine Little White Lies. £5, prebook, 7pm

POETRY LAUNCH: Templar Poetry is at Keats House in Hampstead for for the launch of Matthew Henley’s first collection, Beetle, alongside readings from Paul Maddern. Free, prebook, 7pm

LIARS LEAGUE: The Phoenix on Cavendish Square hosts the monthly Liars League. Actors and authors stand up to tell stories they have written along the theme of Slash & Burn. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm

Wednesday 15 October

TIMOTHY DONNELLY: Psychoanalyst and critic Adam Phillips interviews poet Timothy Donnelly, author of two poetry books, at Lutyens & Rubinstein Bookshop near Ladbroke Grove. £8, prebook, 7pm

BLAIR PEACH: David Renton will be discussing his new pamphlet, Who Killed Blair Peach?, at Housmans radical bookstore in King's Cross. Blair Peach was a 33 year old teacher killed on a demonstration on 23 April 1979 at Southall against the National Front. £3, prebook, 7pm

THE ESTABLISHMENT: Owen Jones, Guardian columnist and author of internationally best-selling book Chavs is at Big Green Bookshop in Wood Green to talk about his new book The Establishment, which has just been published. £18/£5, prebook, 7pm

***

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

Last Updated 08 October 2014