Richard Madeley is the subject of this week’s Grosvenor House Literati.
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.
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 16 October
KEVIN BRIDGES: The comedian is at Waterstones in Canary Wharf to sign copies of his memoir We Need To Talk About… Kevin Bridges. 12.30pm
CHOP CHOP: Debut novelist Simon Wroe is at Clapham Books to read from and talk about his new novel, Chop Chop. It focuses on a chef who takes a low paid job in a Camden gastropub. Free, just turn up, 7pm
SEX WORK: Gay’s The Word bookshop in Bloomsbury hosts the launch event for Male Sex Work & Society. The interdisciplinary book is a comprehensive account of male sex work. Free, prebook, 7pm
POETRY: Join the Emma Press at The College Arms in Bloomsbury for the launch party to celebrate Rachel Piercey and Stephen Sexton’s new poetry pamphlets. London poet Rachel Piercey and Belfast poet Stephen Sexton will give short readings from Rivers Wanted and Oils, and there will be themed biscuits. Free, just turn up, 7pm
JANINA MATTHEWSON: The author discusses her debut novel, Of Things Gone Astray, a whimsical tale of modern life and values following a group of individuals who all realise that they have lost something important to them. At Waterstones Richmond. £3, prebook, 7pm
BANG SAID THE GUN: Expect poetry, spoken word, and an open mic at Bang Said The Gun. Tonight’s performances are by Kate Tempest and Sean Mahoney. At The Roebuck in Borough. £7/£5, just turn up, 8pm
Friday 17 October
RICHARD MADELEY: One half of duo Richard & Judy is the subject of tonight’s Grosvenor House Literati event at the hotel on Park Lane. Richard will present his new novel, The Way You Look Tonight, which is about a 16-year-old who finds out that her father is a killer, and will be answering questions about the book. £20, prebook, 6.30pm
BARCELONA SHADOWS: CSI and writer, Marc Pastor talks about the Vampire of Barcelona, and his novel about a real-life female serial killer at Waterstones Covent Garden. 7pm
DODO POETS: The poetry event returns to Poetry Cafe in Betterton Street with poetry readings from storyteller Richard Scott, newbie Lauretta Tomlinson and more. £3/£7, prebook, 8pm
Saturday 18 October
LIPPED INK: With open mic slots, a featured poet and a spoken word session, Lipped Ink at the Poetry Cafe has something for everyone. £5, just turn up, 8pm
Sunday 19 October
SONNET SUNDAY: During lunch service at the Swan restaurant next to Shakespeare’s Globe on Southbank, actors from the theatre will be performing some of Shakespeare’s sonnets to diners. Part of London Restaurant Festival. Free to diners, prebooking recommended, throughout lunch service
TORRIANO POETS: This week’s poetry reading at Torriano Poets Meeting House in Kentish Town features Hamja Ahsan reading his brother Talha Ahsan’s poetry, and Kirsten Irving and Patric Cunnane introduced by Lisa Kelly. £5/£4, just turn up, 7.30pm
Monday 20 October
GRAPHIC NOVELS: Female-led graphic novel forum Laydeez Do Comics is back at Foyles on Charing Cross Road. The evenings provide a friendly and inspiring atmosphere for emerging artists and established practitioners to test new works and ideas. Men and women welcome, and cake is provided. £1 donation, prebook, 6pm
SUSAN HILL: The author of many novels, including The Woman in Black, is at British Library to talk to Stephanie Merritt (who writes novels as SJ Parris) about her approach to storytelling. £10/£8/£7, prebook, 6.30pm
DAVID HOCKNEY: Acclaimed writer, photographer and broadcaster Christopher Simon Sykes is at Waterstones King’s Road to talk about the second part of his David Hockney autobiography. £5/£3, prebook, 7pm
Tuesday 21 October
BERNARD CORNWELL: Apsley House on Hyde Park Corner hosts author Bernard Cornwell presenting his new book — and his first non fiction title — Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies and Three Battles. He’ll be introduced by Lady Douro, wife of the eldest son of the current Duke of Wellington, Ticket price includes a copy of the book. £100, prebook, 5pm-9pm. He’s also at Waterstones on London Wall to sign copies of the book at 1pm
DYLAN THOMAS: As part of the British Academy‘s Dylan Thomas Centenary events, there’s an evening of five short talks on the theme of the power of the voice on radio. Free, prebook, 6pm-8pm
MONTMARTRE: Sue Roe, author of The Private Lives of the Impressionists and biographer of Gwen John, is at Hatchard’s to give a talk about turn-of-the-century Montmartre: the art that thrived in such an experimental and daring culture, and tales of genius artists Matisse and Picasso. £8, prebook, 6.30pm
BOOKSHOP BOOK: Bestselling author Jen Campbell is at Waterstones Hampstead to discuss her latest title The Bookshop Book, a unique love letter to bookshops in all their diverse glory around the world and across the ages. £3/£5, prebook, 7pm
JAMES FREY: The international bestselling author of A Million Little Pieces will be in conversation with Journalist Lucy Mangan at Waterstones Trafalgar Square, discussing his new project and book, Endgame. £5/£3, prebook, 7pm
-ISM POETRY: The Green Note in Camden is better known for live music, but tonight it hosts five poets who will be tackling “ism” issues, including sexism, ageism and racism. Poets lined up include Hollie McNish and Kayo Chingonyi, hosted by Richard Tyrone Jones. £5/£7, prebook, 7pm
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA: Historian and travel writer Anthony Sattin is at Daunt Books in Marylebone to talk about his book, Young Lawrence: A Portrait of the Legend as a Young Man. £8, prebook, 7pm
ELEANOR MARX: Rachel Holmes introduces her new book on both the public and the private lives of Eleanor Marx, youngest daughter of Karl Marx, at Bishopsgate Institute. £9/£7, prebook, 7.30pm
Wednesday 22 October
SACKVILLE-WEST: Matthew Dennison, author of Behind the Mask: The Life of Vita Sackville-West, is at Hatchard’s to talk about the subject of his biography. £8, prebook, 6.30pm
EVERYDAY SEXISM: Laura Bates of the Everyday Sexism project is at Waterstones Hampstead to talk about her book, which aims to raise awareness of sexist acts experienced by women all over the world on a daily basis. £3/£5, prebook, 7pm
SRI LANKAN LITERATURE: Writers Romesh Gunesekera and VV Ganeshananthan are in conversation with BBC journalist Razia Iqbal about the shadow that war has cast over Sri Lankan literature. Takes place at Courtauld Institute in Somerset House.£8/£5, prebook, 7pm
SYRIA AT CROSSROADS: Rooted in a turbulent history and struggling with a troubled present, Syria stands at the crossroads. In this evening’s talk at Waterstones Piccadilly, John McHugo, author of Syria: From the Great War to Civil War and Diana Darke, author of My House in Damascus: An Inside View of the Syrian Revolution combine forces to offer an insight into Syria past, present and future. Free, prebook, 7pm
INDIAN SOLDIERS: Man Booker Prize judge Alistair Niven is at Housmans Bookshop in King’s Cross for an evening to discuss the politics of Indian soldiers involvement in the First World War, as explored in Mulk Raj Anand’s recently republished book on the subject, Across the Black Waters. Free, just turn up, 7pm
STANZA BONANZA: The Woking poetry team take on Barnes at the Poetry Cafe tonight. From Barnes: Dennis Tomlinson, Lara Charles, Dino Mahoney, Cathra Kelliher, Michael Weightman, and Nayna Kumari. Woking names to follow. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm
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