EVENTS

LEWES: Nigel Jones, biographer of Patrick Hamilton, leads an exploration of the links between art, writing and alcohol; All Saints Centre, Friars Walk; Sun 9, 7.30pm, pounds 3/pounds 2. 01273 477583

RICHMOND: Litfest continues. Lee Langley chairs "Desert Island Books", with novelists Beryl Bainbridge and Hilary Mantel, and poet Tobias Hill, at the Orange Tree Theatre, Clarence St; Sun 9, 7pm, pounds 10/pounds 7.50. Doris Lessing talks at the Old Town Hall, Whittaker Ave; Tue 11, 8pm, pounds 6/pounds 4. 0181 332 0534

MANCHESTER: poetry festival continues. Highlights include Jo Shapcott with Matthew Sweeney and Helen Dunmore (Mon 10); Ian McMillan with Sophie Hannah and John Gallas (Tue 11); Wendy Cope with Craig Raine (Thur 13). All at Dillons, 2-4 St Ann's Sq; events begin at 7pm and cost pounds 2.50. 0161 832 1424

Novelists David Grossman and Ivan Klma read at Waterstones, 91 Deansgate; Wed 12, 7pm, pounds 3. 0161 832 1992

LONDON: Jancis Robinson talks about her book Confessions of a Wine Lover, with a wine tasting, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 66 Knightsbridge, SW1; Tue 11, 7.30pm, pounds 15/pounds 12.50. Tickets from Dillons, Gower St: 0171 636 1577

Latin American poets Haroldo de Campos, Nuno Jdice, Maria Negroni and Jose Watanabe appear at the Voice Box, Royal Festival Hall, SE1; their work will be read in English by poet Jane Duran. Wed 12, 7.30pm, pounds 4/pounds 2.50. 0171 960 4242

Crime writers Mike Ripley, Maxim Jabukowski and Phil Lovesey read from the anthology Fresh Blood 2 at Filthy MacNasty's, 68 Amwell St, EC1; Thur 13, 8.30pm. Info: 0171 278 9993

WATFORD: Words Alive present Men Who March Away, poetry from the Great War, at the library; Tue 11, 8pm, pounds 4. 01923 226230

BRISTOL: hip performance poet Murray Lachlan Young reads at Waterstone's, The Galleries, Broadmead; Wed 12, 7pm, pounds 1. 0117 925 2274

CHIPPING NORTON: veteran poet Adrian Mitchell celebrates his latest book, Heart on the Left, at the Theatre, 2 Spring St; Thur 13, 8pm, pounds 5. 01608 642350