Looking at the week ahead in literary London
Wednesday: Poet Ruth Padel is about to release her debut novel, Where the Serpent Lives. See her in conversation about her work with Eva Hoffman at the British Library (6.30pm, £6 / £4).
At Foyles in Charing Cross Road, Siri Hustvedt delves into medical history, neurology and psychiatry in her new book The Shaking Woman (6.30pm, free but you need to reserve a ticket).
Elizabeth Wilson evokes post-war Hampstead in her thriller War Damage; she'll be reading at West End Lane Books from 8pm (free).
Thursday: There's an Apples and Snakes open mic event at the Free Word Centre on Farringdon Road from 6.30pm (free), or out West Sara Wheeler is talking about the Arctic Circle at Notting Hill's Travel Bookshop (£3).
50 years of New Departures and 30 years of Poetry Olympics are celebrated at the Southbank Centre from 7pm (£10). Michael Horovitz presents Patience Agbabi, Gwyneth Herbert and John Agard among others - plus the launch of two new anthologies.
Bonnie Greer discusses her new novel Obama Music at Piccadilly Waterstones at 6.30pm (£3).
Friday: Hear poetry - including work from José Juan Tablada and Enrique González Martínez - and music from early twentieth century Mexico down at the British Museum (7pm, £5 / £3). The poems will be read in Spanish, with an English translation, plus there'll be experts on hand to add their tuppen'orth.
Saturday: John Hegley and musical and poetical guests return to the Poetry Cafe for Elevenses (11am, £6 / £5).
Sunday: We suggest you stay in and read one of these.
Monday: The Gruntlers invite you to discover your inner hippy at the Poetry Cafe (7pm) in an evening of poetry, film and music.
Seren Books and Poetry Wales are in charge of Coffee House Poetry at the Troubadour, SW5 (8pm) with nine contributors doing their stuff.
Tuesday: Antonia Fraser continues her publicity round for her book about life with Harold Pinter, Must You Go, in an appearance at the Free Word Centre with English PEN (6.30pm, £8 / £5).
What should be a fascinating insight into a ravaged country takes place at The Travel Bookshop (£3), as Bradt guide author Mike Stead talks about Angola.
London favourite Iain Sinclair and Russian defector Vitali Vitaliev meet at Daunt in Chelsea to discuss their work from 7pm (£5).
