Evening Standard columnist Sam Leith was up first and read from "Sod's Law": a collection of the funniest and most pitiable stories of human misfortune from the dawn of the universe to the present day. Featuring the hilarious - and painful - stories of the unsinkable boat that sunk, the unbeatable horse that lost, and the fireproof theatre that burned to the ground showing why everything that can go wrong, often does. Nothing went wrong for Sam on the night. Then, in a big exclusive, he gave us a sneak peek at his new, as yet unpublished novel, 'The Coincidence Engine.' Surreal, dark and deeply funny it's sure to be a hit.

Shifting gears, Natasha Solomons read from her charming debut novel 'Mr Rosenblum's List, Or Friendly Guidance for the Aspiring Englishman'. Mr. Rosenblum has fled Berlin for London and aspires to be a true (Jewish) Englishman. Where will his new beginning end? The novel is a delightful blend of Jewish and English folklore and traditions and evokes the Dorset countryside beautifully. Natasha talked about her country upbringing and no-one will forget the role her narrow wrists played in many a lambing! Natasha is currently trying to break the world record for attending the most number of literary events in a year. We were pleased to do our bit to help!

By the end of the evening, it certainly felt like spring had sprung.

Former Deputy Editor of Country Life Magazine, Jessica Fellowes launched the evening in style with some extracts from her best selling ‘Mud and the City: Dos and Don’ts for Townies in the Country’. Tackling such subjects as the debate of what townies should take to wear for an evening in the country (never anything black); to the inevitable weekend pursuit of Londoners leaving town to seek a lovely country pub for lunch, which in reality ends up as “you screaming at the sat nav as you miss yet another junction off the M3” only to arrive as the pub inevitably stops serving food. Enchanting and charming, Jessica provoked laughter and applause from the crowd of onlookers.

Niven Govinden, described by the Independent as “one to watch” is the award winning author of ‘We Are The New Romantics’ and ‘Graffiti My Soul’. His short stories have appeared in prestigious publications including Time Out and Pen Pusher, and on BBC Radio 3’s The Verb. His third novel is out soon and deals with the town/country divide in inimitable style, which was the perfect follow on from Fellowes’ town and country theme. In his self professed “twisted love letter to the suburbs” he explored, with humour, the strong and fractious relationship that we have between ourselves and our surroundings; be it in the town, the suburbs or the country.

A few questions from both the audience and Damien Barr concluded the review, however the wine continued to flow as the events of the evening were mulled over by the listeners as they dispersed around the store, bringing to a close the successful encounter between the town and the country.

armchair setting Neil shared his thoroughly engaging view of the world, his unflinchingly provocative prose intertwining science, sex and poetry. In ‘My Wives’ his playful and wonderfully original ideas romanticised the everyday tube commute as he dreamed of all the women around London who could have been, should have been his lovers, given another time and place.

With his chosen section of his novel, Jacob Polley carefully pitched the audience straight into a dark field outside of Carlisle in the dead of summer night and into the young mind of central character Chris. When he broke the spell to take a break, the images left in the minds of the audience were so vivid that several commented that it should be made into a film. His reply? Watch this space.

Neil returned to the floor with a further selection of his passionate prose, extolling the pleasures of pasta and lauding the humble cauliflower, explaining with a shake of his head that again some of his favourite themes of food and sex had become inseparable in poetry. The guests left both ravenous and satisfied by the evenings poetic sensibilities.

The turnout was unquestionably the largest so far for a What's On event, and it brimmed and bustled, beautifully and patiently as the evening's orator, the ever-dapper Damien Barr, ushered people to take their seats.

Gavin James Bower was first on and took his place at the fold up pulpit, a clever piece of ordering bearing in mind the desultory nature of Sebastian Horsley. The former model was casually understated, shirtsleeves rolled up, top two buttons undone, coolness personified, it seemed. Yet, as he began reading, he appeared to be a mite nervous. There was no need to worry, however. This show of nervousness accompanied by his charming facade seemed to completely capture the audience, who laughed and giggled and smiled and swooned as he read from his wittily titled debut novel Dazed and Aroused. Based on his experiences whilst working for the fashion magazine Dazed & Confused, where he started out as a writer and fell into modeling, the stories brimmed with fully-blown fashion-circus frolics and he interjected at will to expand on his favourite parts; it was at these interjections, where, completely relaxed and not focusing on the text in hand, he came to life. The audience absolutely lapped him up and he concluded the charm offensive by answering questions, buoyantly and honestly. As the interval loomed, it was fair to say that it was indeed, a happy house.

Enter - Sebastian Horsley - author of the critically acclaimed autobiography Dandy in the Underworld. Whereas Gavin James Bower had charmed and lulled the congregation into a mood of comfort, Sebastian Horsley quickly set about affirming his presence and the atmosphere changed to that of an imminent thunderstorm. The self styled and volatile dandy was brash and bold as he cut a dash below a towering, Cat in a Hat style, top hat, set off with a claret waistcoat and matching nail varnish. The audience was visibly and audibly unnerved as Horsley introduced himself as a useless dandy on the verge of bankruptcy, who would be dead by forty-five via either consumption or suicide. Feet pirouetting, arms gesticulating and tongue unleashed like a cat-o-nine tails on the ears, Horsley read a piece on style, written specially for the salon with the utmost relish, digressing into random lambasts of orifices and various other unsuitable subjects, all suitably capped off with a pomp of profanity and a mischievous look of the eye. By the end of his reading the audience had inevitably warmed to his roguish demeanor and he remained spritely as he answered questions from the floor.

Damien Barr rounded off the evening's events with deft aplomb and as the mannequins uncoiled and resumed their positions, the guests made merry into the night, knowing full well they had seen both sides of a rather spectacular literary sword.<< hide