London Literature Festival

Talks, readings, comedy, poetry, films, music and free events for the incurably curious this autumn.

London Literature Festival 2015 is a laboratory of science, technology and art, fused together by the written and spoken word. There’s everything from dramatic mass readings and playful debates to literary cocktail hours, one-off commissions and a Young Adult Literature Weekender mini-fest.

Festival highlights include the world premiere of a collaborative book by PJ Harvey and Seamus Murphy, Terry Gilliam and a special guest discussing his life, career, art and creativity, and a spectacular four-day performed reading of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick that you can get involved in too. We also welcome comedians Tim Key and Mark Watson in Comedy Couplets for some verbal fireworks and Literary Death Match.

Feeling curious? Ask how game designers draw on literature in Exit, pursued by a Zombie, probe into why we’re fascinated by sharks and wolves, in Apex Predators and explore the science and stories behind depression and the secrets to staying happy in Matt Haig’s two part talk series.

We are proud to have two prestigious literary prizes bookend our festival – The Forward Prizes for Poetry 2015 and the 2015 Man Booker Prize Readings – and to celebrate National Poetry Day Live with a day of free events for the ninth year in a row.