After 12pm, Talks & lectures, Literature

Terry Jones (of writing, directing and Monty Python fame) talks about the possible reasons behind censorship in the Ellesmere manuscript, an early 15th century illuminated manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

Monthly forum offering writers, poets, publishers, booksellers, librarians, creative writing students or anyone else with a literary interest the chance to get together socially to talk about books and publishing. First timers, please contact the organisers via the website.

The omnipresent guitarist Earl Slick, whose most recent project was David Bowie's The Next Day, discusses his new book.

The prestigious Caine Prize, described as Africa's leading literary award, is awarded annually for African creative writing. The £10,000 Prize is awarded for a short story by an African writer published in English, whether in Africa or elsewhere. Join us for an evening of readings from the shortlist: Elnathan John…

A panel of artists, researchers and government policy makers explore the philosophical and critical questions that surround creative work, and the various viewpoints that influence it. Presented by CCA Creative Lab Residency and Centre for Modern Thought, Aberdeen.

The first of three shared readings in which the audience join in. At this intimate event all audience members share in the reading aloud of part of WH Auden and Christopher Isherwood's The Dog Beneath the Skin. Join us as we celebrate the range of poetry in the Poetry Library's collection as part of the library's…

The bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love discusses her first novel for 12 years. The Signature of All Things is a big novel about a big century, soaring across the globe from London, to Peru, to Philadelphia, to Tahiti, to Amsterdam. At its centre is Alma Whittaker, a woman of the Enlightened Age who stands defiantly…

Marina Warner talks about representations of witches and sorceresses in fairy tales and myths. Booking is essential.

For the first time, see the Forward Prizes awarded to poets live on stage. The annual Forward Prizes are regarded by poets internationally as the highest of accolades. Past winners include Thom Gunn, Seamus Heaney, Ted Hughes and Carol Ann Duffy. As a prelude to National Poetry Day and for the first time in the…

All audience members share in the reading aloud of Ken Smith's Fox Running. This is the second of three intimate shared readings which celebrate the range of poetry in the Poetry Library's collection as part of the library's 60th-birthday celebrations. Saison Poetry Library at Royal Festival Hall

The author and founder of Wild Women Writing Workshops talks about finding your voice, the mysteries of creativity and writing poetry and young adult fiction.

Norwegian pianist, composer, author and ECM recording artist Ketil Bjornstadt celebrates the life of fellow Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. Born in Oslo in 1952, Ketil Bjørnstad is a unique figure in the arts in Norway. He is recognised not only as an unusually well-rounded musician (interpreter, improvisor, composer…

Margaret Atwood discusses the hugely-anticipated final novel in her dystopian trilogy. A man-made plague has swept the earth but a small group survives, along with the green-eyed Crakers - a gentle species bio-engineered to replace humans. Told with wit, dizzying imagination and dark humour, Booker Prize-winning…

Join us for a celebratory afternoon of readings, performances, installations and poetry films. With water as this year's theme, be carried along on a wave of words as the Poetry Society and Southbank Centre celebrate National Poetry Day. The Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall Free

During Independent Booksellers Week (29 June - 6 July) leading figures from book publishing, the media and politics come together to discuss the issues facing bookshops. Contributors include the writers Kate Mosse, James Runcie (Head of Literature at Southbank Centre), Lindsay Mackie, Gordon Wise and Anne Sebba, (Chair…

Celebrate the Poetry Library's 60th birthday in an evening of eclectic and unique poetry voices. Join us as the library's diverse collection comes to life. Some of the biggest names in poetry read alongside poets in translation, performance poets and poets renowned for pushing language in surprising directions.

Crime writer Jardin, the man behind the Bob Skinner detective novels, is joined by Bloody Scotland co-founders Anderson and Gray to talk about what makes Scotland's crime fiction unique.

Crime writers Alanna Knight and David Ashton talk about the ouevre of their hero, Robert Louis Stevenson, and his fascination with duality and the human psyche.

Author Sara Sheridan talks about her 'cosy noir' detective Mirabelle Bevan and her adventures.

Seamus Heaney gives a lecture with readings at Queen Elizabeth Hall. A work of art needs 'a second life' after it has been created. Only when it comes home to some other individual and enters with special personal meaning into that individual's memory and affections will it have attained its proper value. Seamus…

Celebrate the Poetry Library's 60th birthday at this special event. We bring together four Poetry Librarians, past and present, to discuss the library. Hear about the poets whose collections have been found amongst the books over the years and discover what the librarians really feel are the best poets they've…

All audience members share in the reading aloud of Alice Oswald's A Sleepwalk on the Severn. This is the third of three intimate shared readings which celebrate the range of poetry in the Poetry Library's collection as part of the library's 60th-birthday celebrations. Saison Poetry Library at Royal Festival Hall

The Queen of Crime talks about the fears she laces through her novels to scare the bejeesus out of her readers.