London Literature Festival 2024

Uniting readers of every age to celebrate the written and spoken word, the London Literature Festival presents talks, readings, discussions and conversations with prestigious authors, rising literary stars, leading cultural observers and those making waves in written and spoken word.

This year's festival opening weekend is co-curated by the award-winning London-born rapper Ghetts. Showcasing the vibrant and collaborative relationship between spoken word and music, the critically-acclaimed artist lends his razor-sharp lyricism, humour and wordplay to two nights of music and poetry at the Southbank Centre.

MUSIC AND LITERATURE

Following UK dates at Glastonbury Festival and critical acclaim for his latest album On Purpose, With Purpose, guest co-curator Ghetts (Fri 25 Oct) will perform for the first time at the Royal Festival Hall for an exclusive live performance.

Bringing together the most exciting names in London’s creative scenes, the following evening, Ghetts Presents: An Evening of Poetry and Music (Sat 26 Oct) offers an exclusive evening curated by the artist himself, consisting of performances and discussion on the lyrics and links to be found in poetry and rap.

Hidden Tracks (Fri 1 Nov) comes to the Purcell Room atQueen Elizabeth Hall. An incredible selection of storytellers recall how one song or piece of music has changed their life, at a night from the much-loved show OneTrackMinds.

NEW VOICES

Kicking off the festival with a night of Debut London Literature (Wed 23 Oct), the festival welcomes an exciting lineup of future writers who are launching their careers with tales of the city including Kaliane Bradley, Hannah Regel, Tom Lamont and Varaidzo, in conversation with Barry Pierce.

Visiting the UK for the first time, two trailblazing Somali women writers, Yasmin Mohamed Kahin and Asha Lul Mohamud Yufu (Fri 25 Oct) will premier the first English translation of their breakthrough collections.

EXCLUSIVES & NEW BOOKS

Strap in for an unforgettable and existentially-loaded evening with evolutionary biologist, author and public intellectual Richard Dawkins (Sun 27 Oct). Join him for an evening of reason, touching on topics from science to religion, life on earth and beyond.

In conversation with Kevin Maher, the author and actor Rupert Everett (Sat 26 Oct) marks the release of his first book of stories The American No, a collection of seven tales of love and loss, drama and glamour, spliced with industry anecdotes and more.

A journey into the heart of American suburbia, the latest novel by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (30 Oct) will be a jumping off point for a discussion around the mainstays of Jewish Life in the United States.

Accompanied by music and poetry, Robert Macfarlane (Sat 26 Oct) will launch his new children’s book, The World to Come, along with a host of special guests. 

Writer and performer Jordan Stephens (Wed 23 Oct) returns to the Southbank Centre to present his new book Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs - a personal take on the writer’s experiences with ADHD.

British playwright and author Hanif Kureishi (Thu 31 Oct) unveils his memoir Shattered, a tender reflection on the incident which left the writer paralysed, with an exclusive launch event and accompanying free live-stream.

On the twentieth anniversary of her historical-fantasy novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, the novelist Susanna Clarke (Sat 26 Oct) introduces audiences to the latest story to join this fictional universe, The Wood at Midwinter. 

Kevin Barry will narrate a staged, abridged reading of his expansive novel The Heart in Winter (Sat 2 Nov) accompanied by live theatrical and musical performances.

BOUNDARY-BREAKING POETRY 

The Forward Prize-winning American poet Danez Smith headlines a special edition of resident music and poetry event Out-Spoken: October (Thu 24 Oct) hosted by the TS Eliot prize-winner, Joelle Taylor. Smith also returns to the Southbank Centre to present their searing new collection, Bluff (Sat 26 Oct).

Over four decades reporting on international conflict, Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum (Sat 26 Oct) has taken solace in poetry; returning to some of her favourite poems, Hilsum recalls memories from her experiences of conflicts from Palestine to Rwanda and beyond.

Hosted by Lemn Sissay OBE, the NPL Presents: The People’s Favourite Poets (Sat 26 Oct) sees the culmination of the National Poetry Library’s 70th birthday celebrations. This event brings together new poets who were invited to create 70-word poems with members of the New Poets Collective for an unmissable evening of performance.

The library’s annual Poetry Day! (Sat 26 Oct) takes over the Queen Elizabeth Hall, offering workshops, live performances and a chance to delve into the poetry archives.

FREE FAMILY EVENTS

A Line Art take to the Clore Ballroom for Alphabet Soup (Wed 30 Oct); a free, interactive installation celebrating the language of food for children between the ages of 5-11 years

The National Poetry Library celebrates NPL Poetry Day! (Sat 26 Oct) offering readings and a chance to view the hidden gems within the largest public collection of modern poetry in the world.

A special edition of Rug Rhymes (Fri 25 Oct), a song and rhyme session for under 5s, takes place in the Clore Ballroom.

TICKETED FAMILY EVENTS

In partnership with The Children’s Bookshow, author and illustrator Sydney Smith (Fri 25 Oct) presents an immersive experience with a chance to watch Sydney paint live on stage.

Pet-obsessed comedian Russell Kane (Wed 30 Oct) presents a children’s comedy show Pet Selector!, and Tall Stories presents a musical adaptation of David McKee’s much-loved The Elmer Adventure (30 Oct-3 Nov).