Daunt Books autumn festival 2016

Daunt Books already has an awe-inspiring festival in March, but this year, for the first time ever, they are having one in the autumn too.

The independent bookshop’s two-day bonanza is sure to delight London book lovers, with talks ranging from neuroscience to stir fry.

Thursdays highlights include a talk from Asian cooking sensation Ken Hom. Having become one of our best-loved TV chefs and a pioneer of Asian food in Britain, Ken has now written a memoir about his tough childhood growing up in poverty in Chicago's Chinatown and his early passion for food. He will be talking to food writer James Steen, writer of The Kitchen Magpie, who will draw out the threads of Ken's remarkable life.

Later in the day, join author, historian and Times columnist Ben Macintyre as he discusses his recent book SAS Rogue Heroes. Embark on a journey with a maverick group of young officers who formed the small, undercover unit in the Western Desert in 1941 that was to become the mythical SAS.

Friday boasts a particularly strong programme. We’re particularly excited about Sarah Perry, author of bestseller After Me Comes the Flood, and now The Essex Serpent, set in the 1880s in the Essex marshes, wherein a widow and her son hunt a serpent in a concoction that weaves the rich detail of Victorian life with themes of evolution and a love story.

The talks will take place at Daunt's Marylebone shop, and tickets can be bought for individual events or for the whole festival. Click here to view the full programme.