Affairs of State by French author Dominique Manotti examines the corrupting influence of money and power in a political setting. What Will Survive by Joan Smith is political in a broader sense. The two writers will discuss their influences, their objectives, and why the crime novel is pre-eminently a political form.

7.30pm - £5 conc. £3

Institut Francais
17 Queensberry Place
London

Michael Arditti will read from his latest novel, Enemy of the Good, a novel about the bitter conflict between liberalism and fundamentalism, treated with wit, wisdom and shattering emotional power.

For more information, including booking information, visit http://www.campdenlitfest.co.uk.

6.30-8.00pm - Chipping Campden School Hall - £6

As of the 8th March you can nominate Jenn Ashworth for the inaugural Author Blog Awards 2010. Jenn Ashworth is the author of the remarkable first novel A Kind of Intimacy published by Arcadia Books and has been writing a witty and often thought-provoking blog at http://jennashworth.blogspot.com/ since February 2007.

The competition, launched by CompletelyNovel.com, aims to promote author blogs and to highlight the great content available in author blogs. Nominations for the awards close on 2nd April. From 5th April a shortlist of the favourite blogs will be available, and readers can again vote for blogs in the categories Best Unpublished Author Blog, Best Published Author Blog, and Best Author Microblog. Winners will be announced on the 19th April.

For more information visit the Author Blog Awards website http://www.completelynovel.com/win-free-books/author-blog-awards.

Dacia Maraini, one of Italy\\\'s foremost women writers, author of the international bestseller The Silent Duchess and the novel Train to Budapest forthcoming from Arcadia Books, will be at the Italian Cultural Institute on 3rd June 2010.

7:30 pm- The Italian Cultural Institute, 39 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8NX