The region continues to attract winners of the Man Booker Prize, the British Commonwealth's most prestigious literary award.

This time it's novelist Barry Unsworth, co-winner of the Booker in 1992 for "Sacred Hunger." He follows Anne Enright, at Carlow University in January, and John Banville, at Mystery Lovers Bookshop, Oakmont, last Saturday.

Marcus Rediker, author of "The Slave Ship" and history professor at the University of Pittsburgh, is bringing Unsworth to Pitt's Oakland campus for a symposium on slavery, 3 p.m. April 2 at Posvar Hall, Room 2500.

Titled "The Slave Ship in History and Literature," the program marks the 200th anniversary of the prohibition of the importation of slaves into the United States.

Joining Unsworth and Rediker on the panel will be Pitt professors Stefan Wheelock, English; Jerome Branche, Hispanic languages and literature; Rebecca Shumway, history; and Joseph Adjaye, Africana Studies; and Edda Fields-Black, history professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

April 2 is also the date for a reading by Brian Turner at the International Poetry Forum at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, Oakland.

Turner is an Army veteran of the Iraq invasion, fighting there with the Second Infantry Division. His 2005 poetry collection, "Here, Bullet," grows out of his military experience and much of the work was written in Iraq.

The forum will also award him its $2,000 Charity Randall Award.

The reading is at 8 p.m. For tickets: 412-621-8866.

• Karen Manion, Nancy Krygowski and Terrance Hayes read their poetry tonight at 8 in the Sphinx Cafe, Bates and Atwood streets, Oakland. It's part of the Hungry Sphinx reading series.

• Poetry and avant garde music mix Thursday at 9:30 p.m. at the Thunderbird Cafe, 4023 Butler St., Lawrenceville.

The poets are Michael Wurster and Romella Kitchens. The occasion is a CD release party for Cap Gun Quartet. Also on the bill will be Daryl Fleming and the Private Sector.

• Autumn House Press poet Rick Campbell, author of "Dixmont," plans a benefit reading April 3 at People's Oakland, 3433 Bates St., at 5:30 p.m.

Book sales will go to People's Oakland the Howard Levin Clubhouse. Reservations by March 31 at 412-683-7140.

• Campbell then joins Edna Machesney of the Pittsburgh Poetry Society April 4 at Te Cafe, 2000 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill, at 7 p.m. for readings. It's free.