Author appearances, poetry and spoken word events in London this week
Literary Lunch with author Frances Osborne. Details below.
Festivals
From Page To Stage Festival continues until 9 March, featuring musical and film adaptations.
SLOVO Russian Literature Festival, the only such festival outside of Russia, runs from 8-23 March, with a variety of events taking place throughout this time. Some events are held entirely in Russian with no translation provided, so if the Russian language is not your forte, check before you book.
On 8-9 March, the British Library hosts The Folio Prize Fiction Festival, featuring the work of English language writers from around the world, and with speakers including Mark Haddon, Sebastian Faulks and Tessa Hadley.
Thursday 6 March
Newham Bookshop hosts author Adam Foulds at Wanstead Library, talking about his latest book, In The Wolf’s Mouth, which explores the lives of several soldiers in North Africa and Sicily. £5, prebook, 7pm
Tom Rob Smith is renowned in the crime fiction world, and today he talks to crime reviewer John O’Connell about writing the book, the background to it, and what’s next. Takes place at Dulwich Books, West Dulwich. £10, prebook, 7pm
Literary journalist and academic John Mullan investigates the mysteries and trivialities of Jane Austen’s novels, with audience participation encouraged. Takes place at literary haven Keats House. £5, prebook, 7pm
Ambit magazine hosts a literary evening at Karamel in Wood Green as part of Haringey Literature Live. Listen to readings by the current editors, including Helen Gordon, contributing editor and author of Landfall, and put your questions to the editors afterwards, plus a chance to buy back issues of the magazine. Free, just turn up, 7pm
Genesis Cinema hosts a live Poetry Slam, which sees poetry and spoken word performers go head to head with the audience voting for the winner. Free, prebook, 7pm
Bang Said The Gun‘s weekly poetry slam takes place at The Roebuck in Great Dover Street tonight, with guests Inua Ellams and Gemma Rogers, plus an open mic spot giving you a chance to win your own slot at the next event. £7/£5, just turn up, 8pm
Literary Death Match takes place at Concrete in Shoreditch. Not familiar with the concept? Four authors read their work for a short period of time, and are then appraised by judges including Peter Rosengard, author of Talking To Strangers, with two finalists going head to head in a literary game. £6/£8, prebook, 8pm
Friday 7 March
Monthly poetry night Burn After Reading takes place tonight at Gallery Café in Bethnal Green. Hosted by a group of young local poets, this month is a collaboration with Birmingham Beatroots collective and featuring Spoz and Jacob Sam-La Rose. £3, just turn up, 7pm
An evening of storytelling for adults takes place tonight, with a night of unexpected tales for adults at The Tea Box. £6, just turn up, 8pm
Saturday 8 March
Keats House hosts Writing For Women’s Rights, an International Women’s Day event in which poet Laila Sumpton discusses how we can use poetry as a tool to highlight gender equality and women’s rights issues. £10/£8, prebook, 1.30pm
Sunday 9 March
Jazz Verse Jukebox takes place at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and combines spoken word with live jazz. Includes an open mic spot. £8, just turn up, 7.30pm
Monday 10 March
London’s quarterly erotic literary soiree, Velvet Tongue, takes place at Bar Kick in Shoreditch tonight, with poetry from Amy Acre, and an open mic. £5/£3, just turn up, 7.30pm
Tuesday 11 March
First Story hosts a literary lunch with author Frances Osborne, who discusses her first novel, Park Lane. Proceeds go to First Story, who organise literary projects in UK secondary schools. £60+bf, prebook, 12pm
Germaine Greer’s decade-long mission of rebuilding a corner of the rainforest in her native Australia is chronicled in her new book, White Beech: The Rainforest Years. Tonight at Bloomsbury Institute, she talks about the book and the experience. £25/£10+bf, prebook, 6.30pm
At Waterstone’s Hampstead, Maajid Nawaz discusses his autobiographical book, Radical, which chronicles his journey from Islamic extremism to democratic awakening. £4/£6, prebook, 7pm
Drink Shop Do hosts a Speakeasy evening, incorporating readings from up-and-coming authors including James Dawson and Sophie Lovett and stories invented against the clock along a theme chosen by the audience. Free, just turn up, 7pm
Liars League takes place at The Phoenix on Cavendish Square. Listen to stories along the theme of Truth & Dare, and take part in the famous half-time book quiz. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm
Wednesday 12 March
Fancy yourself as a writer? Southbank Centre’s flash fiction event StorySLAM:Live returns, with a theme of ‘musicality’. Bring your five minute story along and perform it for a chance to impress the industry judges. £8+bf, prebook, 7.45pm
Follow @LondonistLit for our pick of that day’s literary events.