Author appearances, poetry and spoken word events in London this week
The Devil’s Purse at Soho Theatre. Details below
Thursday 13 February
Rough Trade music store in Brick Lane hosts DJ, musician and writer Ben Watt who presents his new book Romany and Tom. A personal journey into the writer’s own family life and his parents’ marriage. Free, just turn up, 7pm
Wood Green expert and writer Albert Pinching discloses secrets from his latest book Wood Green Through Time at The Big Green Bookshop. £3, prebook, 7pm
Friday 14 February
For Valentine’s Day, Guildhall Library hosts Book Lovers, a talk about historical London lovers. There will be a themed walk afterwards. Free, prebook, 2pm
Some of London’s best poets bring their verse to the Picturehouse in Hackney for an evening of Anti-Slam: Anti-Valentine. You’d better not bring your date! £5/£4, prebook, 7.30pm
Saturday 15 February
Tired of your books? Bring them to Shoreditch Trust’s Waterhouse Restaurant and swap them with someone else’s. Adults must be accompanied by children. Free, just turn up, 12pm
The Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden hosts Louche Women, an evening exploring themes of love and perversions with Caroline Smith and Liz Bentley. £7/£5, just turn up, 7.30pm
Sunday 16 February
Amersham Arms in New Cross is the elected venue for ‘Utter!’ Spoken Word events founder Richard Tyrone Jones’s birthday. There will be a ‘paid gig contest’ as well. £1/£2, just turn up, 4.30pm
Poetry, live music and Thai cuisine mix together at Charlie Wright’s club in Hoxton. £4/£10, just turn up, 5pm
Monday 17 February
Join the debate about grammar between authors David Marsh and Nevile Martin Gwynne at the apostrophe-shy Kings Place. £9.50, prebook, 7pm
Coffee-House Colloquies: The Art of Choosing takes place at the Troubadour in Earl’s Court, where editors from four leading poetry magazines talk about their jobs and poetry in general. Free, just turn up, 8pm
The Devil’s Purse is the performance storytelling night on stage at the Soho Theatre, telling the story of a lonely traveler who loses himself in the mountains. £9/£7, prebook, 8pm
Tuesday 18 February
Ambit New Voices is an evening of Spoken Word at The Sun and 13 Cantons bar between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus. Readers: Eli Goldstone, Dan Duggan, Lisa Kelly, Martin Monahan and Huw Laurence. £5, just turn up, 7pm
Wednesday 19 February
The Ivy House in Nunhead hosts Queer Tales, an evening of music-themed readings that celebrates LGBT history month, featuring different writers and authors. Donations welcome. Free, just turn up, 7.45pm
Join Mike Wozniak, George Lewkowicz and others for a night of thoughts, words and stories on a specific theme. The venue is The Invisible Dot. £10, prebook, 7.45pm
Follow @LondonistLit for our pick of that day’s literary events.