BUXTON: Buxton festival, July 8-24: talks and discussions with authors including Peter de la Billière, William Hague, Sheila Hancock, Robert Harris, Anthony Howard, Simon Jenkins, Penelope Lively, Robert McCrum, Will Self and Fay Weldon; times and venues vary. Tickets £9 per event. To make a booking call 0845 127 2190, for further details on these and other festival events visit www.buxtonfestival.co.uk

CHICHESTER: Chichester festivities, until July 17: talks and literature programme with authors including Tim Clayton, Simon Garfield, Sheila Hancock, Fergal Keane and John Sergeant; times, prices and venues vary. For details call 01243 780192 or email info@chifest.org.uk

DARTINGTON: Ways with Words literature festival, July 8-18: readings, talks and discussions with authors including Julia Blackburn, Sarah Churchwell, Saul David, Roy Hattersley, Anthony Howard, Lucy Hughes-Hallett, Marek Kohn, Paul Levy, David Lodge, Tom Paulin, Richard Van Emden, Peter Watson and Alexander Waugh; times and prices vary. All events at Dartington Hall, nr Totnes. For bookings call 01803 867373, for details visit www.wayswithwords.co.uk

EDINBURGH: Iain M Banks reads from and talks about his book, The Algebraist, at Blackwell’s, South Bridge, July 7, 6.30pm, free but ticketed (0131 6228222)

GRASMERE: Lachlan Mackinnon and Hamish Robinson read a selection of their poetry, at the Prince of Wales Hotel, nr the Wordsworth Trust, Dove Cottage, July 5, 6.30pm, £6 at the door, £5 pre-booked. Optional supper £15 (includes wine). 015394 35544

HARROGATE: Harrogate crime writing festival, July 21-24: talks and panel discussions with authors including Michael Connelly, Stella Duffy, Jasper Fforde, Susanna Gregory, Anthony Horowitz, Alexander McCall Smith, Val McDermid, Jenni Murray, Malcolm Pryce, Kathy Reichs and C J Sansom; times and prices vary. All events at the Cedar Court Hotel, Park Parade. To book call 01423 537230, for further details visit www.harrogate-festival.org.uk

LINCOLN: Louis de Bernières signs copies of and talks about his book, Birds without Wings, at the Lincoln Drill Hall, Freeschool Lane, July 5, 7pm, tickets £4 from Ottakar’s on 01522 540011

LONDON: Kate Mosse, author of Labyrinth, discusses historical fiction with Tracy Chevalier, at Foyles, Charing Cross Road, WC2, July 7, 6.30pm, £5. To book call 0870 420 2777

Tariq Ali talks about his Islam Quintet novel, A Sultan in Palermo, at the London Review Bookshop, Bury Place, WC1, July 7, 7pm, tickets £4 in advance only from the LRB on 020 7269 9030 or e-mail events@lrbshop.co.uk

Julian Barnes reads from and signs copies of his new novel, Arthur & George, at Waterstone’s, Piccadilly, W1, July 12, 7pm, £3 redeemable against purchase (020 7851 2400)

Philip Mansel, author of Constantinople: City of the World’s Desire, 1453-1924, talks to Caroline Finkel about her new book, Osman’s Dream: The Story of the Ottoman Empire 1300-1923, at Daunt Books, Marylebone High St, W1, July 14, 7pm, £5 (020 7224 2295)

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