Author appearances, poetry and spoken word events in London this week
The Putin Mystique by Anna Arutunyan. See left for details
Festivals
The Fairytale Festival continues daily until Saturday 1 February, with reworkings of traditional fairytales – including Little Red Hoodie – performed for a modern audience. £11.25, prebook, 7pm
The Words with Edge Festival continues until Friday 31 January. Thursday is Theatre Thursday, which sees The Book Club of Little Witherington performed by The Woodhouse Players, and Edinburgh Fringe comedian Joz Norris’s one man show Awkward Prophet. Friday is the festival closing celebration, with open mic night. Free, from 7pm
Thursday 30 January
Author Anna Arutunyan introduces her new novel, The Putin Mystique, at Waterstone’s Piccadilly, and will be answering audience questions. Free, prebook, 6.30pm
Crick Crack Club present Downright Rude, an evening of performance storytelling at Rich Mix from Tim Ralphs, Nell Phoenix and TUUP (The Unorthodox, Unprecedented Storyteller), with a theme of “international tales of naughtiness”. Not one for the prudish. £8/£6, prebook, 7pm
Quarterly literary magazine Ambit launch their latest issue in Soho, including readings from poets Martyn Crucefix and Kita Shantiris. £5, just turn up, 7pm
Book Slam presents American fiction writer Jonathan Lethem introducing his new novel, Dissident Gardens, and comedian Dominic Frisby reading from the politically provoking Life after the State. £6/£8, prebook, 7.30pm
Professor of Renaissance Studies Lisa Jardine gives a talk at the Southbank Centre in memory of Shakespeare critic Frank Kermode, discussing how far his idea that Shakespeare is relevant to each generation is relevant today. £10, prebook (we think it’s going to be popular), 7.45pm
Stand up poetry evening Bang Said The Gun presents Phil Kay and Sophie Blackwell. £7/£5, just turn up, 8pm
RIP Nordic crime: here come the Poles. Join authors William Brodrick, Mariusz Czubaj, Anya Lipska, and Joanna Jodełka at Belgravia Books. Free, RSVP, 7pm
Friday 31 January
Come Rhyme With Me present their menu of London spoken word performers, consisting of Sarah Perry, Anthony Anaxagorou and Karim Kamar and Bella Spinks, kicked off with an open mic. £12.50, prebook, 7pm
Nutshell magazine host an open mic poetry night, including a reading from poet Ian McLachlan. £5, 7.30pm
Saturday 1 February
Award-winning novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, is the latest voice of The Serpentine Gallery’s Bridge Commission Audio Walks. Free, until 4 February, listen here.
Sunday 2 February
Poet Patience Agbabi and “dub-poet” Linton Kwesi Johnson join forces at the Tricycle Theatre to share the poetry and prose that has inspired them. £16-26, prebook, 6.30pm
Inc Magazine’s Poetry Party will celebrate the launch of issue 6 and will have spoken word performances from Salena Godden, Emma Jones, Sam Berkson and more, as well as word games. £5/£4, 7.30pm
Torriano Poetry Meeting House has poetry reading from Jennifer Johnson, Richard Leigh, John Snelling and Murray Shelmerdine. £5/£3, just turn up, 7.30pm
Monday 3 February
Singer songwriter Tracey Thorn in conversation with writer and playwright Damian Barr at Kings Place. £9.50, prebook, 7pm
Exiled Lit Cafe presents the voices of three exiled Iranians through poetry, short stories and film, including the work of human rights activist and poet Esmail Khoi. £4/£2, just turn up, 7.30pm
Coffee-House Poetry host What We Should Have Said, an evening of spoken word performances and talks including poet Sean O’Brien and creative writing lecturer Vona Groarke. £8/£7, just turn up, 8pm
Tuesday 4 February
Author Jessica Hepburn is joined by actress Janet Ellis to launch her new book, The Pursuit of Motherhood, at Waterstones Covent Garden. Free, prebook, 6pm
American graphic novelist Paul Pope talks about his career, current projects, and the creative process at Foyles. Includes drawing demo, answering audience questions and book signings. £6+bf, prebook, 6.15pm
Illustrator Quentin Blake – known for his work in Roald Dahl’s book – talks about his work illustrating books, and more recently, public spaces such as hospitals and museums. £20 (talk only), prebook, 7.30pm
Beyond Words presents poets Matthew Caley and Kirstyn Brook reading their latest work, followed by an open mic. £4/£3, just turn up, 7.30pm
Wednesday 5 February
The Poet is a Boxer looks at the world of boxing through poetry by Gabriele Tinti and S.J. Fowler, as well as film and musical interpretations. Free, prebook, 8pm
Follow @LondonistLit for our pick of that day’s literary events.