EVENTS

LONDON: Poet Jamie McKendrick reads from The Marble Fly: Mon 30, 6.30pm; free. The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton St, WC2; 0171 240 2133

City of London Festival readings continue: pounds 5 per session, pounds 30 the lot. Rachel Cusk, Mon 30, 6.15pm; John Mortimer, Wed 2, 6.15pm; crime queen Ruth Rendell, Thur 3, 6.15pm. Bridewell Theatre, Bride Lane, EC4; 0171 638 8891

Poet Robin Robertson reads from his current collection, A Painted Field; Tue 1, 8.30pm, pounds 3 Vox'n'Roll, Filthy MacNasty's Bar and Whisky Cafe, Amwell St, EC1. 0171 278 9993

CHELTENHAM: Penelope Lively reads from her last novel, Heatwave, Tue 1, 7.30pm, pounds 6/pounds 5. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square. 01242 227979

MANCHESTER: Young Northern novelist Glen Duncan, author of Hope, Wed 2, 7pm, pounds 3. Waterstone's, Deansgate, 0161 832 1992

CANTERBURY: Redmond O'Hanlon, Thur 3, 7pm; pounds 2. Waterstone's, St Margarets Street, 01227 456343

BEYOND THE BORDER: Story-telling festival at St Donats Castle, South Wales. With top oral-culturalists from around the globe, including Radcliffe Award-winning Timothy Neat of Scotland, author of The Summer Walkers, about the Highland travelling people. Fri 4-Sun 6; various prices. 01446 794848