EVENTS

2 Ilkley Festival: David Dabydeen, A L Kennedy, Ian McMillan read at Craiglands Hotel, Cowpasture Rd; Sun 22, 5.30pm, pounds 4/pounds 3. 01943 601210

2 Lancaster Literature Festival: comic poet John Hegley reads at The Dukes, Moor Lane; Sun 22, 8pm, pounds 6/pounds 5. 01524 66645

2 Manchester: open-mike poetry at the Frog & Bucket, Newton St; Sun 22, 8.30pm, free. 0161 236 9805

2 Guildford Book Festival: have supper with Thomas Keneally at Guildford Library, North St; Mon 23, 7pm, pounds 5 (inc buffet).

Poetry at the Guildhall, High St with Patience Agbabi, John Burnside and Mike Venner; Tue 24, 6pm, free.

Mick Imlah delivers the annual University Poetry Lecture, on Robert Graves; Lecture Theatre D, Univ of Surrey; Fri 27, 7.30pm, pounds 5/pounds 3.50 (inc refreshments). 01483 444334

2 Edinburgh: Maureen Freely, author of What About Us? and Sue Innes lead a discussion on women in the workplace; James Thin Bookshop, 53-50 South Bridge; Wed 25, 7pm, free. 0131 556 6743

2 Bridport: poets Sophie Hannah, Tobias Hill and Glyn Maxwell read at the Arts Centre, South St; Thur 26, 7.30pm, pounds 4/pounds 3. 01308 424204

2 London: Tibor Fischer and Gordon Burn read at Waterstone's, 121 Charing Cross Rd, WC2; Tue 24, 7.30pm, free. 0171 434 4291

A celebration in fairy-tales of evil Mr Fox at Crick-Crack Club, Candid Cafe, 3-5 Torrens St, N1; Wed 25, 8pm, pounds 5/pounds 3.50. 0171 284 4367

Jenny Uglow on 18th century visions of London (Defoe, Pope etc ); Voice Box, Royal Festival Hall, SE1; Sat 28, 12pm, pounds 4/pounds 2.50. 0171 960 4242

2 Newcastle: poet Robert Creeley reads at Morden Tower, West Walls, Bk Stowell St; Fri 27, 8pm, pounds 2/pounds 1. 0191 477 4430

2 Swansea: horror-writing special begins Fri 27, with Lisa Tuttle, Christopher Fowler, Kim Newman. Readings, workshops, etc. 01792 652211