Author appearances, poetry and spoken word events in London this week
Playwright Alan Bennett comes to the National Theatre.
Plan Ahead
LITERATURE FESTIVAL: The Asia House Literature Festival runs from 6-21 May, with authors such as Brigid Keenan, Kamila Shamsie and John Keay taking part in various events. See full programme here.
Thursday 1 May
TIME FOR TEA: Waterstones Piccadilly hosts the book launch of Chai: The Experience of Indian Tea, followed by a tea demonstration. Free, prebook, 4pm
MRS HEMINGWAY: Naomi Wood, author of Mrs Hemingway, talks about the book and signs copies at Beyond Retro in Dalston. The book tells the story of Ernest Hemingway’s life through the voices of his four wives, and it’s one we’ve been looking forward to. Free, prebook, 6.3opm
ART AND DESIGN: Deyan Sudjic, author of B is for Bauhaus and Director of the Design Museum is in conversation with author and design critic Stephen Bayley at Daunt Books in Marylebone. £8, prebook, 7pm
STAND-UP POETRY: Bang Said The Gun‘s weekly stand-up poetry shindig takes place at The Roebuck in Borough and this week features Amber Tamblyn and Keith Jarrett. £7/£5, just turn up, 8pm
Friday 2 May
BOOKSHOP EXHIBITION: Iconic bookstore Foyles will soon be moving out of its flagship home of the last 80 years, and into a new store. To mark the occasion, there will be an exhibition about the store’s history at the Charing Cross Road shop, launching today. Free, just turn up, until 30 May
LITERARY PARTY: The Alarmist brings its literary parties to record store Rough Trade East in Brick Lane. Acts include spoken word artist Emma Jones, poet Fran Lock and storyteller Wesley Cooke. £6, prebook, 6pm
FILM PREVIEW: 22 year old novelist Samantha Shannon’s debut novel, The Bone Season, has been bought by film company The Imaginarium Studios. She discusses the book with director Andy Serkis. At Waterstones Piccadilly. £8, prebook, 6.30pm
MURDER MYSTERY: Author Joël Dicker will be at Daunt Books in Marylebone to talk about his murder mystery book, The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair. £8, prebook, 7.30pm
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, 7.30pm
Saturday 3 May
NORTH INDIA: Sufi poetry and music society have an evening of poetry and songs from North India, at Poetry Cafe. £10/£8/£5, just turn up, 8pm
Sunday 4 May
TORRIANO POETS: At this week’s Torriano Poets meeting, Dinah Livingstone launches her new collection The Vision Splendid. £5/£4, just turn up, 7.30pm
Monday 5 May
STORYTELLING COURSE: Torriano Meeting House has paired up with Nell Phoenix to offer a beginner’s storytelling course, starting today. £163, prebook, for 9 weeks
IRVINE WELSH: Author Irvine Welsh discusses his new book, The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins, with Alex Clark at Southbank Centre. £10, prebook, 7.45pm
Tuesday 6 May
MICHAEL HUTCHINSON: Cyclist Michael Hutchinson will be at the Bloomsbury Institute to talk about his new book, Faster: The Obsession, Science and Luck Behind the World’s Fastest Cyclists. Few tickets left at time of writing. £10, prebook, 6pm
AUTHOR TALK: Authors Ned Beauman and Zoe Pilger discuss their new books, Glow, and Eat My Heart out. Takes place at Lutyens Rubinstein bookshop. £8, prebook, 7pm
OPEN MIC: Poetry Unplugged is an open mic night at the Poetry Cafe. £5/£4, just turn up, 7.30pm
Wednesday 7 May
ZOO TALK: Author Louise Doughty heads to London Zoo for the latest in the series of writers’ talks. She discusses her reactions to the okapi. £12, prebook, 6.30pm
NOVEL READING: At Clapham Books, debut author Rebecca Wait reads from her novel The View On The Way Down. Free, just turn up, 7pm
ALAN BENNETT: The well-known playwright discusses his works with Nicholas Hytner at the National Theatre. £4/£3, prebook, 7pm
LONDON CLASSICS: To mark the release of their tenth London Classics title, author-publishers Martin Knight and John King discuss There Ain’t No Justice by James Curtis at Waterstones Piccadilly. Free, prebook, 7pm
RUSSIAN POET: Head to Rich Mix for a celebration of the life of Russian poet Joseph Brodsky. It will be an evening of poetry, prose, music, discussion and film. Free, prebook, 7.30pm
STRANGER THAN FICTION: A new literary night launches at Phoenix Artists Club hosted by author and travel writers Dixe Wills, along the theme of first love. £6, just turn up, 7.30pm
DODO POETS: The Dodo Modern Poets aim to give new poets a chance to showcase their work. Tonight they are at Southbank Centre with regular performers Sue Johns, PR Murry, and special guest Jasmine Ann Cooray. Free, just turn up, 8pm
LOUCHE WOMEN: Comedy performance poet Liz Bentley and writer/performer Caroline Smith will talk and read about topical issues, with the audience invited to take part in discussions. At Poetry Cafe. £7/£5, just turn up, 8pm
Follow @LondonistLit for our pick of that day’s literary events.