Author appearances, poetry and spoken word events in London this week
Wednesday: David Renton and Gareth Edwards discuss the politics behind the Olympics at Housmans (7pm, £3).
Thursday: If you’re around Heathrow Terminal 5 between 10am-12pm head to WHSmiths to hear Vintage Children’s Classics books being read out loud.
Helen Burke, Peter Philips, Peter Daniels and Robert Stein perform their poetry at Lauderdale House (8pm, £5 / £3).
Friday: Malika Booker hosts a Caribbean Literary Salon at the Free Word Centre, with guests Jacob Ross and Kerry Young (7.15pm, £8 / £5).
Over at the Lewisham Big Screen on Blackheath, combine watching the Olympics with a day of spoken word from local writers, family storytellers, Barbican Young Poets, Inspired Word poets, Keats House poets, John Turner, Apples and Snakes and the incomparable John Hegley (starts at 12pm, free).
The Farrago August SLAM! is hosted by John Paul O’Neill and features poetry from Greta Bellamacina, Peter Hayhoe, Catherine Labiran, Rynae Lindsey, Dudley Sutton, Mark ‘MrT’ Thompson and the Peckham Black History Month SLAM! winner, all at the RADA Foyer Bar (7.30pm, £6 / £5).
Twelve of the Foyles Young Poets take part in a murderous extravaganza at the Poetry Cafe (6pm, free).
Saturday: There’s a family fete at the Royal Festival Hall Foyles with Vintage Children’s Classics: lots of games, dressing up, face painting, stories and illustrator Adam Stower (11am-5pm, free).
Children’s author Michelle Robinson is at the Big Green Bookshop, explaining what to do if an elephant stands on your foot (11am, free).
Sunday: Daunt Walking Book Club discusses Hotel du Lac as it rambles over Hampstead Heath from 11.30am (free).
Monday: Enjoy a night of noir and Gothic with The Gruntlers at the Poetry Cafe (7.30pm, £7 / £5). David Parry MCs and guests include Darren Storer, Peter Stanford, Eleanor Bennet and Andrew Rea.
South Bank Poetry Magazine brings Katherine Lockton, Benedict Newbery, Lisa Kelly, Caroline Vero and Peter Ebsworth to the Calder Bookshop on The Cut (7.30pm, £4 / £3).
Tuesday: New stories with a law and order theme at Liar’s League, performed by actors. Head to the Phoenix pub (7.30pm, £5).
Elliot Perlman talks about his new book with Susie Orbach at Waterstones Hampstead (7pm, £5).
Follow @LondonistLit for our pick of that day’s literary events.