Peckham Literary Festival Events
Review Bookshop: 131 Bellenden Rd Peckham London SE15 4QY. 020 7639 7400
Persepolis: 28-30 Peckham High Street London SE15 5DT. 020 7639 8007
Flat Time House: 210 Bellenden Road, SE15 4BW. 020 7207 4845
Peckham Library, 122 Peckham High Street, SE15 5JR
[Monday] [Tuesday] [Wednesday] [Thursday] [Friday] [Saturday] [Flat Time House] [Kids Stuff]
-
Monday 16th November
REVIEW @ 19.30
Breakfast With Socrates: An Evening with Robert Rowland Smith
Robert writes a column on ‘life lessons' in the Evening Standard and contributes to the massively popular Philosophy Bites podcast series and speaks regularly on BBC radio. His new book explores the hidden philosophy of everyday life in the company of some of the greatest thinkers in history. It asks you to question your daily routine. Can Nietzsche improve your commute? What does Freud think about your shopping? Does Bakhtin approve of your gym fetish? From getting ready in the morning, commuting, having dinner, attending a party, arguing with your partner, having sex, to falling back to sleep - your day will never be the same again.
-
Tuesday 17th November
REVIEW @ 19.30
From Alexander to the Taliban: A Survey of a Benighted Yet Enthralling Country
In tonight's talk Arabist Hugh Leach will describe Afghanistan's geographical and tribal make up and give a brief history of the country from the time of Alexander the Great, through the period of British involvement during the 19th and early 20th centuries, to the present day. After laying the necessary Islamist background to what motivates the Taliban and AlQa'ida, he will debate the uneasy situation that now prevails.Hugh served as a solider and diplomat for 36 years mainly in the Middle East. He has travelled widely in Afghanistan including exploration of a remote source of the great Oxus river in northern Badakhshan. In an active retirement he has, inter alia, led young persons expeditions to the Hindu Kush and Karakorum mountains of northern Pakistan. Historian of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs (Royal Central Asian Society) and the author of its Centennial History “Strolling About on the Roof of the World” (Routledge 2003) and a holder of its Lawrence of Arabia Memorial Medal. Hugh is currently engaged in writing a book about his early travels in the Yemen with the late Dame Freya Stark, comprising sepia photographs taken with 1930 Leica cameras. He is also Associate Director of the Academy of Circus Arts, the only travelling Circus School in Europe.
PERSEPOLIS @ 19.30
GARTH CARTWRIGHT: MORE MILES THAN MONEY
An evening of travelling and music and travelling with music: Garth Cartwright and Daniel Metcalfe in conversation. Garth’s new book More Miles Than Money - Journeys Through American Music, is a stomping good follow-up to his earlier classic Princes Amongst Men. This is a great read for anyone who likes music, blues and the wide open road.Daniel’s book Out of Steppe came out earlier this year, when he was kind enough to come along and talk to us: now he joins Garth for a lively chat about, well, you know, stuff.
Both authors will be happy to sign copies of their books.
Light refreshments provided.
-
Wednesday 18th November
REVIEW @ 19.30
Wyld Night: Readings and Q&A with Evie
Evie Wyld’s first novel “After the Fire A Still Small Voice” has been universally applauded (well in the UK, Australia and America!) as a terrifically self-assured debut. Her prose has been pronounced comparable to Tim Winton, Steve Toltz, Peter Carey and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Patrick White.
She is also known for her short stories which include “Menzies Meat“, “The Convalescent’s Handbook” and “What Will Happen to the Dog After We Are Dead?” which have been published in various magazines and anthologies. Recently returned from a stint at the Melbourne Writers Festival and a promotional trip to New York she is now revitalised and ready to answer your tricksy Questions.
Stop Press!!! Evie is in the running for this year's John Llewellyn Ryhs literary prize, up against 2007 Orange Prize winner Chichimanda Ngozi Adichie and 2008 Booker Prize winner Aravind Adiga.
PERSEPOLIS @ 7.30pm
Lost English: An Evening with Chris Roberts
In the last thirty years or so a large number of once commonplace words, phrases and expressions have disappeared without trace from common usage. And with them, too, have gone a number of goods, services and everyday objects that were once an important part of our everyday lives.Where did they go and why?
In Lost English, local author Chris Roberts casts a nostalgic eye over words and phrases that were once in everyday use, takes a look at how our language has changed and investigates the influence of other cultures on our own.
Booking advisable, refreshments provided.
-
Thursday 19th November
REVIEW @ 19.30
Neither Am I
Neither Am I Anonymous, anarchic, much-loathed post-post-fictionalist masked crusaders Neither Am I swoop into town (again), on a mission to liberate Peckham from the forces of literacy, via an over-intimate, unplugged laptop reading. Neither Am I will steal an hour of your life and smear it in their dirt. A pox on the good image of the small press, Neither Am I can, and do, read things what they have wrote. Special guest stars Jim Davidson, Phil Cool, Prince Charles and more.
PERSEPOLIS @ 19.30
SPIRIT, Garden Inspiration: Dan Pearson Book Launch
The official Peckham launch of ‘celebrity’ gardener Dan Pearson's gorgeous new tome, SPIRIT, Garden Inspiration. No coffee or garden table will be complete without this volume this autumn. Chockablock full of glorious images and visionary writing, the book takes the reader on a journey around the gardens and landscapes which have inspired Dan over the years.He will be chatting about gardening and reading from his book. Oh, and signing a few copies too if you ask nicely.
Booking advised.
Refreshments provided.
-
Friday 20th November
REVIEW @ 19.30
South Bank Poets
The South Bank Poets have all been published in South Bank Poetry, a quarterly magazine with a London and Urban focus edited by Peter Ebsworth.This evening, Peckham based poets Alison Craig, Nicky Bashall, Dominic O'Rourke and Joan Byrne, join Peter in reading and performing what is best in Contemporary South London Poetry.
PERSEPOLIS @ 19.30
Story-telling with Sally Pomme-Clayton
Story-telling with Sally Pomme-ClaytonSally Pomme-Clayton will be visiting us for one of her extremely popular story-telling evenings. That means you need to book.
Sally takes us on one of her magical journeys round the Middle East and back. She never fails to hold us spell bound – come along for the ride.
She will also be signing copies of her latest book, Persephone.
Tea and cookies provided.
-
Saturday 21st November
REVIEW @ 19.30
Will Hodgkinson: Ballad of Britain
Will is bringing along a couple of his songster mates to make a proper song and dance about his new book "Ballad of Britain". Although Will travelled the length and breadth of Britain to find out whether folk music still exists in a meaningful sense, his journey starts (and ends) at home in Peckham. An engaging blend of humour and musical scholarship the book is as much a portrait of modern Britain as an adventure into lyric and melody. Will travelled with a portable recording device called a Zoom and along the way he danced with gypsies in a wood in Sussex, visited a town of Bob Dylans in Scotland and was attacked by a large woman with a chair in Kent. He is the author of the highly acclaimed books "Song Man" and "Guitar Man".
http://willhodgkinson.turnpiece.net/
PERSEPOLIS @ 18.30
Student Films from Young Iranian Film-makers
Presentation of Iranian student films. Not strictly literary, we know - but high art nonetheless. Four young Iranian film-makers will be debut-ing (well, kind of) their masterpieces at Persepolis on this evening. Who knows – if it catches on mayhap we’ll have ourselves a film festival next year too.
Booking essential – spaces limited.
From 6.30pm – so you can still go and have your Saturday night out afterwards.
Refreshments provided.
-
FLAT TIME HOUSE
Flat Time House @
12.00 - 18.00The Present Moment/The Whole Event
19-22nd November, 12-6pm - catch the final week of Flat Time House's exhibition "The Present Moment/The Whole Event" featuring book reliefs and paintings by John Latham, as well as works by Jose Arnaud-Bello, Juliet Blightman, Mariana Castillo Debal, Carlyle Reedy and Barbara Steveni.Flat Time House, 210 Bellenden Road, SE15 4BW
0207 207 4845
-
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE FESTIVAL
REVIEW @ 19.30
In association with Southwarks' Children's Literature Festival Peckham Library will be hosting the following events:-Tuesday 17th November 5-6.30pm - Peckham Teenage Reading Groups Comic Book Night. 13-18 year olds are welcome to come along, share their favourite comics and get involved with storyboarding.
Wednesday 18th November 4-5.30pm - Telling tales through rhyme with Shared Property Theatre Company. Inspired by a love of Roald Dahl's Revolting Rymes, Shared Property will present some of their own tall tales to music and assist every young visitor to create their own upbeat musical rhyme. Age 7-12 years.
Friday 20th November 4-5.30 pm - Stories Galore. Renowned storytellers Sandra Agard and Jan Blake take you on a wonderous adventure with stories from Africa and the Caribbean. Ages 7-11 years.
Saturday 21st November 2-3pm - Puppet Making. Recreate your favourite book character as a puppet. Age 7-12 years.
[