The fabled city, once dazzling commercial and intellectual capital of the Songhay empire, now just another impoverished desert town on the adventure holiday trail for affluent Western tourists, a group of whom make their way across the Mali desert, and the pages of Pauline Plummer’s book, From Here To Timbuktu.

Like Chaucer's pilgrims en route to Canterbury, these travellers pass the time bickering, gossiping, flirting and falling out, sharing the stories of their lives with humour and pathos. Written in Chaucer's rime royal, From Here To Timbuktu is about Third World poverty and First World consumption. It's a travelogue, a satire, an epic poem, and a journey, from here to Timbuktu.

Pauline published her first collection of poetry in 1992 and since then other collections, readings, broadcasts, residencies and publications have followed.

She will be reading from her book, From Here To Timbuktu on Thursday 2 May, 7.30pm to 9pm at Huddersfield Library. Tickets £2 from Huddersfield Library foyer or any Kirklees box office 01484 223200 or http://kirklees.gov.uk/townhalls