London, Ep. 51

June 6, 2015 — On a perfect summer night in Jolly Ol', Literary Death Match partnered with Picador Books to present a spectacular at the Stoke Newington Literary Festival which saw Will Smith out-duel co-finalist Lissa Evans in a Literary Play Your Cards Right finale by a 2-1 score to win Smith the LDM London, Ep. 51 crown. 

But before the finale was even a thought, the night kicked off with Evans, scriptwriter, producer, director and author of of Crooked Heart and Spencer's List who read about 10 year old evacuee observing the goings on of wartime London. Next up was Anna Thomasson, author A Curious Friendship (Pan Macmillan) who told us the story of Edith Wharton opening the box of Cecil Beaton’s photographs of her.

The mic was then handed to the trio of all-star judges Rachel Cooke, journalist, TV critic, author of Her Brilliant Career; David Whitehouse, journalist and author of Bed and Mobile Library; and Suzanne Moore, award-winning columnist (The Guardian, New Statesman). The three ripped off dazzling commentary, praising both writers in all kinds of ways before deciding it would be Lissa who would advance as the night's first finalist. 

Next was Round 2, led off by Will Smith (actor, writer and author of Mainlander), detailing the passive aggressive competitive streak of couples living in Jersey. Finally it was Emma Chapman author of How to be a Good Wife, who blew everyone away with a story she wrote age 11 about a pig, followed by a dark passage from her Picador novel.

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

Then up stepped LDM London executive producer Suzanne Azzopardi to announce the night's finale: Play Your Literary Cards right, where the two finalists were tasked with taking control of the playing cards by guessing if the following card would be higher or lower. With all to play for, it was Smith who commandeered the cards, completing two rounds and winning the LDM London, Ep. 51 crown and literary immortality to go with it.

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