The week ahead in literary London
Wednesday: George Szirtes and Sebastian Hayes are celebrating poetry in translation at the Poetry Cafe (7.30pm, £5 / £3).
South African literary legend Andre Brink is in conversation about his life and work at Foyles Charing Cross Road (6.30pm, free but reservations necessary).
Thursday: The incomparable Simon Armitage reads from his translation of the classic Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight at the Swedenborg Society (6.30pm, £5 / £3, which we consider the bargain of the week).
The Wizard of Skill and Paul Birtill join the regulars at Bang Said the Gun (8pm, £5).
If all the election talk is making you a bit rebellious you're not alone; David Horspool is at Stoke Newington Bookshop at 8pm to discuss a thousand years of English rebellion (£2).
James Shapiro examines the origins and reasoning behind the theories that Shakespeare isn't Shakespeare at the London Review Bookshop (7pm, £6).
Friday: The editors of Women and Conscientious Objection, Ellen Elster and Majken Jul Sorensen, are at Housmans at 7pm to talk about the book and the stories behind it.
JT LeRoy - aka Laura Albert - is at Foyles tonight to read from her work and answer questions on her alter ego (6pm, free but email to reserve a place).
Saturday: Chrissie Gittins introduces The Humpback's Wail, her new poetry collection for children, at Manor House Library in Lee this afternoon at 2pm.
Kat François hosts a more adult event at Islington Town Hall; Tshaka Campbell, Phenzwaan, Comfort, Saran Green, Chanje Kunda and Poppyseed muse on the themes of love, sex and devotion (7pm, £10).
Sunday: Economist and business writer John Kay gives the sermon at the School of Life (11.30am, £12.50) on the theme of obliquity. Stop chasing after your goals and you're more likely to achieve them apparently. Sounds good to us.
Monday: Colette Bryce, Daljit Nagra and Jo Shapcott bring their poetry show You. Are. Here. to Kings Place (7pm, £9.50). Less a reading, more a full-on performance.
Tuesday: We may be Londonist but we're not averse to extending a literary hand to our French neighbours. If you feel the same, pop to the London Review Bookshop for 7pm to hear Graham Robb talk about his new book, Parisians (£6).
Maggie O'Farrell and Lionel Shriver discuss their latest books at Foyles (6.30pm, free but email to reserve a place). This should be a fascinating chance to hear two of the UK's heavyweight novelists.
Susan Ronald, author of the Pirate Queen, interviews Adrian Tinniswood about piracy on the 17th-century Barbary Coast at the Arts Lounge of the Phoenix Theatre at 7pm (£4, email marcus.gipps [at] blackwell.co.uk to reserve a place). Alternatively, we have three pairs of tickets to give away - keep an eye on @Londonist for more information.
