perks!The best things to do at the Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival
The Southbank Centre’s annual London Literature Festival is back for another spectacular run of literary events in autumn 2018. Poets, authors, speakers, artists, big-name Hollywood actors and even The Who’s Roger Daltrey are gathering to celebrate the written and spoken word from October 18 to November 28 2018.
Last year Tom Hanks appeared at London Literature Fest to read from his first novel, and for 2018, they’re bringing in his ‘Forrest Gump’ co-star Sally Field to share stories from her new memoir ‘In Pieces’. Ring in the end of a literary era as Carol Ann Duffy reads from her final collection as Poet Laureate, see an appearance from Salman Rushdie, join a discussion on empire and race led by Akala and historian David Olusoga and get an introduction to Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ from Mary Beard. Take your nose out of that book and check out our pick of the best events and things to do at this year’s London Literature Festival.
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The best events at London Literature Festival 2018
Akala and David Olusoga: Striking the Empire
See popular historian David Olusoga live in conversation with hip hop star and author of ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ Akala as they cover issues of the empire, race, culture and class and try to contexualise them in the roots of modern British society.
An Introduction to The Odyssey
At this London Literature panel, classist Mary Beard will offer a starter’s guide to Homer’s greek epic, followed by an abridged reading of the famous poem. Beard will be joined on a panel by author and academic Simon Goldhill, Professor of Greek at Cambridge, memoirist Daniel Mendelsohn, poet Karen McCarthy Woolf and author Madeline Miller.
An Evening with Sally Field
You’ve watched her (inexplicably) play Forrest Gump’s mum and grew up watching her in ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ – but most of us know precious little about Sally Field. Ahead of the release of her new memoir ‘In Pieces’ Sally address the highs and lows of her career.
An Evening with Roger Daltrey
Who are you Roger Daltrey? Who, who, who, who? Let’s find out: to celebrate the release of his memoir ‘Thanks a lot Mr Kibblewhite’, Roger will be discussing everything from his school days in the suburbs of west London to being catapulted into the world of drugs, drama and mayhem with The Who.
Carol Ann Duffy and Friends
To mark the release of her final collection as poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy will be taking to the stage with Imtiaz Dharker, Mark Pajak and Keith Hutson for a collection of live readings.
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