Ian Patterson & Ali Smith: Books – A Manifesto episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 18, 2026 · 1H 2M

Ian Patterson & Ali Smith: Books – A Manifesto

from London Review Bookshop Podcast · host London Review Bookshop

In Books: A Manifesto (Weidenfeld) subtitled How to Build a Library, poet and critic Ian Patterson reflects on a life spent with and formed by books. Now, as he constructs the last of many libraries, he makes an impassioned case for the radical importance of reading in our lives - from Proust to Jilly Cooper, from golden-age detective novels to avant-garde poetry. He talked about books and libraries with the novelist Ali Smith who, in Public Library and Other Stories, explored our many-faceted fascination with the book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 18, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Ian Patterson & Ali Smith: Books – A Manifesto

0:00 1:02:56

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of London Review Bookshop Podcast?

This episode is 1 hour and 2 minutes long.

When was this London Review Bookshop Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on April 18, 2026.

Can I download this London Review Bookshop Podcast episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!