EVENTS

2 Sussex: Roots, Radicals and Writing runs from Oct 1-30, various venues. Robert Hewison, author of Culture and Consensus, debates radicalism with poets Don Paterson and Aaron Williamson at Komedia, Manchester St, Brighton; Sun 1, 4pm, pounds 5/pounds 3.50. 01273670030

Tony Benn discusses Robert Tressell, author of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, at Do Tongues, The Lift, Queens Rd, Brighton; Mon 2, 8pm, pounds 4.50/pounds 3.50. 01273 779411

Paul Foot celebrates the life and work of Thomas Paine at the All Saints Centre, Friary Walk, Lewes; Wed 4, 7.30pm, pounds 2. 01273 471150

2 Aberdeen: playwright Stewart Conn reads at the Arts Centre, 33 King St; Tue 3, 7.30pm, free. 01244 635208

2 Manchester: Umberto Eco reads from The Island of the Day Before at the Royal Northern College of Music, Oxford Rd; Tue 3, 7pm, pounds 5. Tickets from Waterstone's, Deansgate (0161 832 1992)

2 Liverpool: Somalian novelist Nuruddin Farah, Nigerian poet Niyi Osundare and South African playwright and author Miriam Tlali read at Toxteth Library, Windsor St; Thur 5, 7.30pm, pounds 2.50/pounds 1. 0151 708 5474

2 London: John Harvey, author of Men in Black, talks to Aileen Ribeiro at Zwemmer, 24 Litchfield St, WC2; Thur 5, 7.30pm, free. 0171 240 4158

2 Bracknell: Lip from the Hip Lit Fest: Andrew Motion and Simon Armitage celebrate the life of Keats; Sat 7, 8pm, pounds 7/pounds 6. All at South Hill Park Art Centre. 01344 484123

2 Cheltenham: This year's Literary Festival runs from 6 to 15 Oct. Highlights include: Keith Waterhouse reads from his second volume of memoirs (Everyman Theatre, Fri 6, 2.30pm, pounds 5); Penelope Fitzgerald reads from her new novel The Blue Flower (Town Hall, Fri 6, pounds 5.30, pounds 7/pounds 5); Fiona MacCarthy on William Morris (Town Hall, Sat 7, 10am, pounds 5); Malcolm Bradbury, Richard Hoggart and Claire Tomalin on "My Favourite Penguin" (Town Hall, Sat 7, 1pm, pounds 6); Will Self and Jay McInerney talk to Lynn Barber (Town Hall, Sat 7, 7pm, pounds 7/pounds 5). 01242 227979