Chicago, 1947: on a freezing February night, France’s feminist icon Simone de Beauvoir calls up radical resident novelist Nelson Algren, asking him to show her around. After a whirlwind tour of dive bars, cabarets and the police lockup, the pair return to his apartment on Wabansia Avenue. Here, a passion is sparked that will last for the next two decades.

Join us for an evening with author Douglas Cowie who will be reading from and discussing his novel Noon in Paris, Eight in Chicago, already named by one of our favourite customers as her novel of the year so far.