A celebration of the life of Maya Angelou will be staged at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 5 October, as part of the London literature festival at the Southbank. Angelou, who rose from poverty, violence and racism, to become a renowned author, poet, playwright, and civil rights activist, and recited her poem ‘On the Pulse of Morning’ at President Bill Clinton's inauguration, died earlier this year aged 86. Also on the festival bill is John Cooper Clarke, who is appearing at the Royal Festival Hall on Saturday 4 October, with guests including Luke Wright, Mike Garry, and Phill Jupitus. The literature festival continues until Monday 13 October. Full festival details 

 

OCTOBER

Exeter poetry festival, until 5 October 

London literature festival, until 13 October

Warwick Words festival of literature and spoken word, 1-5 October

Swindon poetry festival, 2-5 October

Birmingham literature festival, 2-11 October

Cheltenham literature festival, 3-12 October 

Havant literature festival, 3-12 October

Ilkley literature festival, 3-19 October

Durham book festival, 6-18 October

Manchester literature festival, 6-19 October

Essex poetry festival, Chelmsford, 11 October 

Write Out Loud poetry jam, Marsden jazz festival, 12 October

Teesside poetry festival, Middlesbrough, 16-20 October

Tears in the Fence festival, Dorset, 24-26 October 

Ted Hughes festival, West Yorkshire, 24-26 October

Black Huts film and poetry festival, Hastings, 29 October - 2 November

 

NOVEMBER

Black Huts film and poetry festival, Hastings, until 2 November

Wimborne literary festival, 1-9 November

Aldeburgh poetry festival, 7-9 November

Reading poetry festival, 7-9 November