EVENTS : BOOKS

2 Birmingham: Discover '40s literature in the Caf at the Central Library; readings every Tue at 3pm, starting Tue 21. A booklist, "40 famous novels from the '40s", also available. 021 235 4511.

2 Glasgow: readings from novelist Maggie Graham and poets Dilys Rose and Angela McSeveney at CCA (Studio), 350 Sauchiehall St; Wed 22, 7pm £2/£1. 041 332 0522.

2 Oxford: Gore Vidal delivers the Amnesty lecture at the Newman Rooms, St Aldates; Thur 23, 6pm, £5/£3. Tickets : Blackwells Music Shop (0865 792792 x452) or on the door.

2 Central London: Roy Porter chairs a seminar on Romanticism at the ICA, The Mall, SW1; Thur 23, 7.30pm, £5.50. 071 930 3647.

2Lancaster: Horror and thriller writer Stephen Gallagher talks about his work at Pizza Margherita (upstairs), 30 Moor St; Thur 23, 7.30pm, £4/£2. 0524 62166. Part of the Lancaster Literature Festival.

2 Central London: An evening of Spanish story-telling, plus Flamenco dancing and guitar; Las Estrellas, 2-3 Inverness Mews, Bayswater; Thur 23, 8pm, £4/£3. 071 221 9078.

2 Glasgow: Between The Lines: poet W N Herbert reads his poems at Tramway, Albert Drive; Fri 24, 7.30pm, £4/£2.50. Includes film screening. 041 227 5699.

2 South London: Roy Hutchinson performs Autogeddon by Heathcote Williams at BAC, Lavender Hill, Battersea, plus ecological comedy from Tony Allen and poetry from Rachel Steward; Fri 24, 8.30pm, £4.50/£2.50. 071 223 6557.

Central London: Jewish Book Week runs from 5-12 March; features Joseph Heller, Alan Isler, a talk on Jewish women in English fiction and Europe's largest Jewish book fair; Royal National Hotel, Bedford Way, WC1. Info 071 722 7925.