EVENTS

2 Hay Festival (runs to Monday): novelists David Lodge and Jill Paton Walsh in conversation at the Midland Marquee; Sun 4, 10.30am, pounds 5.

Malcolm Bradbury delivers the TLS Lecture in the Pavilion; Sun 4, 12.10pm, pounds 5.

Simon Schama talks to Christopher Cook at the Midland Marquee, Sun 4, 2.10pm, pounds 6. 01497 821299

2 Swansea: veteran performance poet Adrian Mitchell reads at Ty Llen, Somerset Pl; Mon 5, 7.30pm, pounds 3/pounds 2. 01792 652211

American poet Tess Gallagher reads from her poems, including work written about the death of her husband Raymond Carver, at Ty Llen; Tue 6, details as above.

2 Central London: Icelandic writer Thor Vilhjlmsson introduced by Ted Hughes, with extracts read by Fiona Shaw at the ICA, The Mall, SW1; Wed 7, 7.30pm, pounds 5.50/pounds 4.50 membs and concs. 0171 930 3647

Actor Michael Maloney reads the work of Wilfred Owen at the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Rd, SE1; Thur 8, 7pm, pounds 4.10 (inc glass of wine). 0171 416 5311

Margaret Atwood reads her new poems at the Owl Bookshop, 211 Kentish Town Rd, NW5; Tue 6, 7.30pm, pounds 2. 0171 485 7793

Childrens' writer Philippa Pearce reads from Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden and her own Tom's Midnight Garden at the Voice Box, Royal Festival Hall, SE1; Sat 10, 12pm, pounds 3.50/pounds 2. 0171 928 8800

2 Chelsea Festival: Rachel Kempson and Corin Redgrave read the work of Oscar Wilde at the Lillie Langtry Room, Cadogan Hotel, SW1; Wed 7, 8pm, pounds 10. Eleanor Bron hosts a champagne reception and dinner in honour of Oscar, with readings, next Sunday at the Cadogan, tickets pounds 45. Enquiries 0171 824 8219

2 Leeds: Vikram Chandra reads from Red Earth and Pouring Rain at Waterstone's, 93 Albion St; Wed 7, 7pm, free. 0113 242 0839

2 Manchester: Deborah Tannen reads from her book Talking 9 To 5 at Waterstone's, 91 Deansgate; Wed 7, 7pm, pounds 2. 0161 832 1992