London, Ep. 42

July 3, 2014 — On a perfect summer night in Jolly Ol', Literary Death Match partnered with Independent Bookseller's Week to present a special Windmill Books spectacular at the brand-spanking-new Foyles that went down to the wire, as John Boyne outdueled co-finalist Anthony Anaxagorou in a Literary Pictionary finale by a 2-1 score to win Boyne the LDM London, Ep. 42 crown. 

But before the finale was even a thought, the night kicked off with LDM favorite Nick Harkaway, commentator and author of Tigerman, The Gone-Away World and Angelmaker who read about a man and boy on an island before calamity and danger entered the picture. Next up was John Boyne, award-winning author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and A History of Loneliness who read a written-for-LDM original focused around John Barnes and Alex Ferguson and football, that featured accents and hilarious football clichés perfectly timed to the World Cup season.

The mic was then handed to the trio of all-star judges: Alexandra Heminsley, journalist, running wunderkind and author of Running Like a Girl; Arjun Basu, Twister creator (140-character short stories) and author of Waiting for the Man; and writer, comedian, actress Hils Barker. The three ripped off dazzling commentary, praising both writers in all kinds of ways before deciding it would be Boyne who would advance as the night's first finalist. 

Next was Round 2, led off by Carys Bray, author of A Song for Issy Bradley and Scott Prize-winning Sweet Home, who read about derby day in Liverpool, featuring an excellent array of Liverpudlian mother jokes. Finally it was Anthony Anaxagorou (poet, writer, winner of the London Mayor's Poetry Slam) who blew everyone away with a poem about the worst parts of our society and how you cannot put it into words. 

Again the judges were handed the mic, and again they delivered praise and wild associations before deciding it would be Anaxagorou who would advance as the night's second finalist. 

Then up stepped LDM London executive producer Suzanne Azzopardi to announce the night's finale: Literary Pictionary, where the two finalists were tasked with figuring out what books audience members were drawing. With all to play for, it was Boyne who shouted out "Passage to India!" first, winning him the LDM London, Ep. 42 crown and literary immortality to go with it.

Follow us on Twitter: @litdeathmatch

Then up stepped LDM London executive producer Suzanne Azzopardi to announce the night's finale: Literary Pictionary, where the two finalists were tasked with figuring out what books audience members were drawing. With all to play for, it was Boyne who shouted out "Passage to India!" first, winning him the LDM London, Ep. 42 crown and literary immortality to go with it.

Follow us on Twitter: @litdeathmatch