Marina Lewycka will be talking about Various Pets Alive & Dead

AN AWARD-WINNING author will be talking about her latest book on Monday.

Marina Lewycka will be at David’s Bookshop in Letchworth GC to discuss and sign copies of Various Pets Alive & Dead.

The German-born author, who grew up in England and is now based in Sheffield, received wide acclaim for her debut A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, which scooped the Bollinger Everyman Prize for Comic Fiction and was shortlisted for the Orange Prize.

Her latest novel is an offbeat look at modern values as left-wing parents Marcus and Doro, brought up on free love, cheesecloth blouses, crochet and allotments, have to contend with their very different children.

Set half in Doncaster, half in London, the book – as the title suggests – weaves the tale with hamsters, cockroaches, poodles, a chicken and multiplying rabbits.

Lewycka will be introduced by Ukrainian dissident Vitali Vitaliev at 7.30pm at the bookshop in Eastcheap.

Entry is £3 but is redeemable against the purchase of the book on the night. Call 01462 684631 to reserve a space.