BOOKS: EVENTS

LONDON: 'Science and Sensibility', Richard Dawkins reflects on the position of science in our culture in the final `Sounding the Century' lecture chaired by Roy Porter at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Tue 24, 7.30pm, pounds 7/pounds 4. 0171 960 4242.

2 Vox 'n' Roll presents comedian Charles Higson, novelist Ben Richards and NME journalist Steven Wells in a literary reading accompanied by music they've chosen, at Filthy Mac Nasty's Bar & Whisky Cafe, 68 Amwell St, Tue 24, 8.30pm,pounds 5. 0171 837 6067.

2 Germaine Greer, Erica Jong and Fay Weldon discuss and read their work from the Seventies at the Purcell Room, Wed 25, 7.30pm, pounds 6/pounds 3.50. 0171 960 4242.

MANCHESTER: novelist David Leavitt (above) reads The Page Turner at Waterstone's, 91 Deansgate, Tue 24, 7pm, pounds 3. 0161 832 1992.

BRIGHTON: Do Tongues poetry reading: Billy Childish sings, reads his poetry and reads from his second novel Notebooks of a Naked Youth; poet Jacq Aris and beat cinephile Jack Sargent join forces for a spoken word performance at Komedia Theatre, Manchester Street, Tue 24, 8pm, pounds 6-pounds 3.50. 01273 327 867.

CANTERBURY: Joanna Trollope reads from her new novel Other People's Children at Waterstone's, 20-21 St Margaret's St, Thur 26, 7pm, pounds 2. 01227 456 343.

OXFORD: the Oxford Literary Festival, Fri 27-Sun 29 at The Oxford Union, St Michael's St. An eclectic collection of 31 events and 52 people on diverse subjects such as food; the classics; crime novels; writing for the Internet, TV and radio; and exciting children's activities. Novelists, poets and biographers - William Boyd, Paul Johnson, Deborah Moggach, to name just a few - read and discuss their work. For more information call 01865 798 600.