EVENTS

CHELTENHAM: Festival continues. Highlights include: poets Jenny Joseph and John Burnside (Sun 13, 12noon, pounds 4/pounds 3); novelists Margaret Drabble and Nell Dunn (Everyman, Mon 14, 4.30pm, pounds 6/pounds 5); Alethea Hayter on Charlotte M Yonge (Wed 16, 10.30am, pounds 4/pounds 3); poets Elizabeth Jennings and Hugo Williams (Fri 18, 12noon, pounds 4/pounds 3). All Town Hall except where stated. 01242 227979

LONDON: Alec Guinness talks about his autobiography in the Lyttelton, NT, SE1; Mon 14, 6pm, pounds 3.50. 0171 928 2252

Jamaica Kincaid reads at Centreprise, 136-138 Kingsland High St, E8; Mon 14, 7.15pm, free. 0171 254 9632

Nick Hornby and Blake Morrison talk about their work at Hornsey Library, Haringey Pk, N8; Thur 17, 7pm, free.

Hermione Lee talks about Virginia Woolf at the Cottesloe, NT, SE1; Fri 18, 6pm, pounds 3.50/pounds 2.50. 0171 928 2252

BRACKNELL: novelists Jonathan Coe and Helen Dunmore read at South Hill Park, Ringmead, Birch Hill; Wed 16, 8pm, pounds 6/pounds 5. 01344 484123

CARDIFF: biographers Michael Holroyd and Justin Wintle talk about Augustus John and R S Thomas at the Royal Hotel, St Mary St; Wed 16, 8pm, pounds 5/pounds 3.50. Info: 01222 492025

BRADFORD: James Knowlson talks about his life of Beckett at Dillons, Market St; Tue 15, 7pm, pounds 1. 01274 741211

MIDDLESBROUGH: Anne Fine, Sue Limb read at Marton Way Hotel, Marton Rd; Thur 17, 8pm, pounds 3/pounds 2. 01642 242561

ILKLEY: festival begins Friday. Brian Patten reads at Craiglands Hotel,Cowpasture Rd, Fri 18, 8pm, pounds 6/pounds 5; Stevie Davis on Emily Bronte at Bronte Parsonage Museum, Sat 19, 12noon pounds 4/pounds 3; Meera Syal and Sophie Hannah read at Ilkley Playhouse, Weston Rd; Sat 19, 7pm, pounds 5/pounds 4. 01943 601210

MANCHESTER: Dermot Healy reads at Waterstone's, 91 Deansgate; Fri 18, 7pm, pounds 3. 0161 832 1992

WELLS: biographer Philip Ziegler talks in the Bishop's Palace; Sat 19, 3pm, pounds 5. Part of the Lit Fest. Info: 01749 672552