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Now that we are inching towards autumn, the book world seems to be emerging from its annual August slumber. And nowhere is this more evident than in the arena of new releases. Anything else happening in Literary London this week will undoubtedly be overshadowed by the windfall of new novels by the biggest names in British literature; If you are a book lover, it doesn’t get much better than the next few days. But that doesn’t mean that you are relegated to staying in and reading these latest efforts, because what happens when a famous novelist releases a novel is that they appear in public to talk about it – and that’s just what is ensuing in London this week!
Events Around London:
Tomorrow night (Wednesday), Caryl Phillips appears with Graham Swift to discuss his latest book, a biography of Broadway entertainer Bert Williams. More specifically the two writers will be talking about "the tragedy of race and identity." 7pm at the London Review Bookshop, 14 Bury Place.
On Thursday, Zadie Smith (pictured) will be making an appearance at the UCL Bloomsbury Theatre to discuss her new novel, On Beauty – one of just about a gazillion of this week’s new releases that has been longlisted for the Booker prize. Everyone already knows about Smith’s career so far – a spectacular debut followed by a squeeking through the sophomore slump. All sources are indicating that On Beauty is indeed a thing of beauty, putting Smith firmly back on track. Tickets are £6/Concessions £5. UCL Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, 7pm.
Another day, another household name at the UCL Bloomsbury Theatre. On Monday, Salman Rushdie replaces Zadie Smith to discuss his new novel, Shalimar the Clown. Like Smith, Rushdie is receiving stellar reviews for his latest effort. Tickets are £7/Concessions £5. UCL Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, 7pm.
New Releases (Brace yourself, this is quite a list):
Dancing in the Dark, by Caryl Phillips (Sept. 1)
In the Fold, by Rachel Cusk (Sept. 1)
Chicago Noir, by Neal Pollak (Sept. 1)
Shalimar the Clown, By Salman Rushdie (Sept. 1)
Slow Man, By J.M. Coetzee (Sept. 1)
Shakespeare: The Biography, by Peter Ackroyd (Sept. 1)
On Beauty, by Zadie Smith (Sept. 2)
