The TLS Podcast

This week, Ed Vulliamy gives us an exclusive look at the letters between his Great-Aunt Gladys and Ezra Pound; and David Horspool dips a toe into the luscious world of the lido.'Lido Land: How Britain Learned to Make a Splash', by Tom FortProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Toby Lichtig on a constellation of new fiction; and Merlin Holland on the afterlife of his grandfather, Oscar Wilde.'The Palm House', by Gwendoline Riley'Devotions: Eight Stories', by Lucy Caldwell'The Tribe', by Michael Arditti'Lázár', by Nelio Biedermann, translated by Jamie Bulloch'You Are the Führer's Unrequited Love', by Jean-Noël Orengo, translated by David Watson'After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal', by Merlin HollandProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April is behind us - here's a look back at some of the conversations we've had this month on The TLS Podcast. We hear from Fiona Stafford on encounters with remarkable trees, Emily Herring on why we should all slow down a little, Emma Smith on how Shakespeare scholarship wrestles with the gaps in what we know, and Sara Wheeler on the monumental task of becoming Jan Morris’s biographer.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Russell Williams on the French writers laying down their pens; and John-Paul Stonard hails a bravura production of Bertolt Brecht.The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until May 30Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sara Wheeler reflects on monumental task of becoming Jan Morris's biographer; and Abigail Dembo reads us an intriguing new poem.'Jan Morris: A Life', by Sara Wheeler'He Wore His Leather Coat', by Abigail DemboProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma Smith on how Shakespeare scholarship grapples with gaps; and Muriel Zagha admires François Ozon's noir adaptation of Camus's classic novel'Book Culture in Shakespeare's Stratford: The Quiney Connections', by Marlin E. Blaine, Lena Cowen Orlin, Robert Bearman and Alan H. Nelson'L'étranger', various cinemasProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been quite a month on The TLS Podcast, here's a listen back at some of the conversations we've had in March.We hear from Christy Edwall on the joys of being a lifelong bookworm, Sarah Lonsdale on the remarkable Clemence Dane, Julian Evans on two books exploring the link between food and war in Ukraine, and we revisit our interview with the inspirational Michael Morpurgo.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Emily Herring explains why we all need to take it a bit easier; and Ana Alicia Garza on the novelist whose ancestor inspired a Victorian classic.'In Defence of Leisure: Experiments in living with Marion Milner', by Akshi Singh'The Brain at Rest: Why doing nothing can change your life', by Joseph JebelliOliver Twist & Me: The true story of Dickens's best-loved novel', by Nicholas Blincoe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, John Banville considers the work of a formidable Irish writer; and Fiona Stafford on meetings with remarkable trees.'An Arrow in Flight', by Mary Lavin, selected by Colm Tóibín'The Genius of Trees: How trees mastered the elements and shaped the world', by Harriet RixThe Great Tree Story: How forests have shaped our world', by Levison WoodProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Julian Evans on two books exploring the link between food and war in Ukraine; and Lily Herd introduces this issue's In Brief reviews.'Strong Roots: A Ukrainian family story, interrupted', by Olia Hercules'Bread and War: A Ukrainian story of food, bravery and hope', by Felicity SpectorIn Brief: 'Postcards, translators and Esperanto pioneers', by Guilherme Fians, Bernhard Struck and Claire Taylor; 'Rapture of the deep', by Robert Irwin, completed by Andrew Crumey; 'Here comes the sun', by Bill McKibben; 'Queens at war', by Alison Weir; 'Interrupted journeys', by Adrian Potter; 'Literature and epistemic injustice', by Sarah Colvin; 'Invading the American canon', by Muireann Maguire; 'Nabokov and the Russian diaspora', by Bryan KaretnykProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here is the interview with Michael Morpurgo in full.Produced by Charlotte Pardu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, an interview with the inspirational Michael Morpurgo; and David Horspool discusses the Second World War with Tim Bouverie, the winner of this year's Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize.'The Line to Legend Land', with an introduction by Michael Morpurgo'Black Beauty: A retelling', by Michael Morpurgo'Allies at war: The politics of defeating Hitler', by Tim BouverieProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the extraordinary stories of two pioneering women: Francesca Wade on Rhoda Power, and Sarah Lonsdale on Clemence Dane.'In the Storm: Caught in the chaos of the Russian revolution 1917-18', by Rhoda Power'Clemence Dane and Good Housekeeping: Modernity and common reading', by Stella DeenProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here is our full conversation with Francis Spufford, he joined us to talk about his new novel, Nonesuch. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Christy Edwall on the boon of being a bookworm; and Norma Clarke is impressed by a memoir of a childhood survived.'Books: A manifesto, or, How to build a library', by Ian Patterson'The gifts of reading for the next generation: Essays on nurturing a passion for reading', edited by Jennie Orchard'Relearning to read: Adventures in not-knowing', by Ann Morgan'Leaving Home: A memoir in full colour', by Mark HaddonProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As February draws to a close, we’re taking a listen back at some of the conversations we’ve had over the past month on The TLS Podcast.We listen back to Nick Enfield exploring the benefits of playing games, Mary Hitchman on the history of humanity's fascination with the moon, Peter Filkins, winner of the inaugural Freudenheim Translation Prize, joins us with chair of the judges Boyd Tonkin and Darra Goldstein on the hidden properties of kimchi and sourdough.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, novelist Francis Spufford explains why the Blitz proved fertile territory for fantasy and the occult; and Darra Goldstein on the hidden properties of kimchi and sourdough. 'Nonesuch', by Francis Spufford'Adventures in Fermentation: From ancient origins to culinary frontiers, an exploration of the microbes that shape the world we live in', by Johnny Drain'Ferment: The life-changing power of microbes', by Tim SpectorProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter Filkins, winner of the inaugural Freudenheim Translation Prize, joins us with chair of the judges Boyd Tonkin to talk about the mercurial genius of Elias Canetti; and a poem in praise of Tuesdays by Jamie McKendrick.'The Book Against Death', by Elias Canetti, translated by Peter Filkins'Mardi Gras', by Jamie McKendrickProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mary Beard dons her VR set to experience a Roman cataclysm; and Mary Hitchman on the history of humanity's fascination with the moon.'The Last Days of Pompeii: The immersive exhibition', Immerse LDN, Excel, London, until March 15'The Medieval Moon', by Ayoush LazikaniProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Nick Enfield explores the benefits of playing games - whether or not you keep score; and Mike Jakeman on how the football World Cup has got bigger and bigger.'The Score: How to stop playing someone else's game', by C Thi Nguyen'World Cup Fever: A footballing journey in nine tournaments', by Simon Kuper'The Power and the Glory: A new history of the World Cup', by Jonathan WilsonProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As January draws to a close, we take a look back through some of the conversations we have had so far in 2026. First, publisher Alessandro Gallenzi joined us to reveal how he turned literary detective and uncovered Dylan Thomas's youthful plagiarism, then Joanna Kavenna explains why she invented a game to write her new novel, Tristram Fane Saunders surveys the poetic landscape and Maria Scott talks us through her discovery of photographs of Jeanne Duval, muse and lover of Charles Baudelaire.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Maria Scott on recently discovered photographs of Jeanne Duval, muse and lover of Charles Baudelaire; and Pratinav Anil weighs up the case for and against reparations.'Reparations: Slavery and the tyranny of imaginary guilt', by Nigel Biggar'The big payback: The case for reparations for slavery and how they would work', by Lenny Henry and Marcus RyderProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Tristram Fane Saunders surveys the poetic landscape; and Toby Lichtig on a rediscovered slice of life in 1930s Berlin.'A History of England in 25 Poems', by Catherine Clarke'Rhyme and Reason: A short history of poetry and people (for people who don't usually read poetry)', by Mark Forsyth'Endless Present: Selected articles, reviews and dispatches, 2010-23', by Rory Waterman'The Privatisation of Poetry', by Andy Croft'Beautiful Feelings of Sensitive People: Screen grabs of British poetry in the 21st century', by Andrew Duncan'Berlin Shuffle', by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, translated by Philip BoehmProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Joanna Kavenna explains why she invented a game to write her new novel; how to survive life online; and a new poem.'Seven', by Joanna Kavenna'This Is for Everyone', by Tim Berners-Lee with Stephen Witt'Enshittification: Why everything suddenly got worse and what to do about it', by Cory Doctorow'How to Save the Internet: The threat to global connection in the age of AI and political conflict', by Nick Clegg'The Future', by Jesse NathanProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, publisher Alessandro Gallenzi reveals how he turned literary detective and uncovered Dylan Thomas's youthful plagiarism; and Norma Clarke on the stunning work of two 18th-century women portrait artists.'Mrs Kauffman and Madame Le Brun: The entwined lives of two great eighteenth-century women artists' by Franny Moyle Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we introduce a very festive issue; and Toby Lichtig on the puppeteers pulling the strings of this season's big productions.'The Pelican Child', by Joy Williams'The BFG', by Roald Dahl, adapted by Tom Wells RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon'Pinocchio', by Carlo Collodi, adapted by Charlie Josephine, Globe TheatreProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lily Herd heads for outer space in the company of a prodigious imagination; and Andrew Motion joins us with a wonderful new poem.'Collected Stories' by Cixin Liu, translated by John Chu, Andy Dudak et al'All that We See or Seem', by Ken Liu'Snow', by Andrew Motion Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Devoney Looser on what we don't know about Jane Austen; and Peter Swaab introduces a previously unpublished story by the great Sylvia Townsend Warner. 'Jane Austen in 41 Objects', by Kathryn Sutherland'Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: The women writers who shaped a legend', by Rebecca RomneyJane Austen and George Eliot: The lady and the radical', by Edward Whitley'Wild for Austen: A rebellious, subversive, and untamed Jane', by Devoney Looser'The Pursuit and the End', by Sylvia Townsend WarnerProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Camille Ralphs confides the highs and lows of travelling by Greyhound bus; and Alev Adil boards a train to join current night owls and bygone tourists.'Greyhound', by Joanna Pocock'Moonlight Express: Around the World by Night Train', by Monisha Rajesh'To the Sea by Train: The Golden Age of Railway Travel', by Andrew MartinProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Damian Flanagan explores the complex history of the Japanese masterpiece The Tale of Genji; and Miranda France on the eventful life and enduring work of Miguel de Cervantes.'The Tale of Genji', by Murasaki Shikibu'El Verano de Cervantes', by Antonio Muñoz Molina'El Cautivo', directed by Alejandro AmenábarProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, TLS contributors select their favourites from 2025; plus an interview with CD Rose, winner of this year’s Goldsmiths Prize.‘We Live Here Now’, by CD RoseProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, how well does Alan Hollinghurst's novel The Line of Beauty translate to the stage? And Toby Lichtig interviews the newest winner of the Booker Prize, David Szalay.'The Line of Beauty', by Jack Holden, based on the novel by Alan Hollinghurst, Almeida Theatre, London, until November 29'Flesh', by David SzalayProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Terri Apter reviews a quartet of books exploring the impact of parenthood on identity, particularly for women; and we revisit Helen Garner, as she wins the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction.'Four Mothers: A year of motherhood around the world', by Abigail Leonard'The Republic of Parenthood: On bringing up babies', by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett'Second Life: Having a child in the digital age', by Amanda Hess'Childless by Choice: The meaning and legacy of a childfree life', by Helen Taylor'How to End a Story: Collected Diaries', by Helen GarnerProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lily Herd introduces us to the concept of Fascist Yoga; and Mark Storey on America’s ghosts.‘Sick Houses: Haunted Homes and the Architecture of Dread’, by Leila Taylor‘Haunted States: An American Gothic Guidebook’, by Miranda CorcoranProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Margaret Drabble enjoys an enthralling biography of an adventure writer and his entourage; and Thea Lenarduzzi on the gothic mystery at the heart of her new book.'Storyteller: The life of Robert Louis Stevenson', by Leo Damrosch'The Tower', by Thea LenarduzziProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mary Beard grapples with a noisy new version of Euripides at the National Theatre; and Norma Clarke on the mysterious world of Helen DeWitt's new novel.'Bacchae', by Nima Taleghani, after Euripedes, Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, London, until November 1'Your Name Here', by Helen DeWitt and Ilya GridneffProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Tim Lake explains why Bertie Wooster is not half the dimwit we think he is; and fiction editor Toby Lichtig introduces the novels to look out for this autumn.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Nicola Shulman is entranced by the life of a naturalist; and Larry Wolff enjoys a night at the opera - with added superheroes.'A year with Gilbert White: The first great nature writer', by Jenny Uglow'The amazing adventures of Kavalier & Clay', by Mason Bates and Gene Scheer, based on the book by Michael Chabon, Metropolitan Opera, New York, until October 11Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Richard Sennett delivers a powerful warning to universities to defend their freedom; and Helena Kelly on the revolutionary world that shaped Jane Austen.'The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influence and Inspiration Behind the Novels', by Helena KellyProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, AE Stallings immerses herself in Daniel Mendelsohn's new translation of Homer's Odyssey; and Dinah Birch is intrigued by an ambitious novel twenty years in the making. 'The Odyssey', by Homer, translated by Daniel Mendelsohn 'The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny', by Kiran DesaiProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, James Shapiro celebrates New York's love affair with Shakespeare; Mark Nayler goes on the hunt for monsters; and Lily Herd introduces this issue's In Brief pages. 'Monsterland: A journey around the world’s dark imagination', by Nicholas Jubber'The Perilous Deep: A supernatural history of the Atlantic', by Karl BellProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Professor Jonathan Bate on a tiny Elizabethan portrait with an illuminating history; and novelist Gwendoline Riley assesses the mysterious life and work of Dame Muriel Spark.'Electric Spark: The enigma of Muriel Spark', by Frances Wilson'The Letters of Muriel Spark – Volume 1: 1944–1963', edited by Dan GunnProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the winner of this year's TLS Ackerley Prize, Jeff Young, discusses his spellbinding memoir; and Toby Lichtig talks to the Australian novelist Michelle de Kretser at this year's Hay Festival.'Wild Twin', by Jeff Young'Theory & Practice', by Michelle de KretserProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, George Berridge instructs Lucy and Alex on the noble art of oenophilia; and Lucy takes in a trio of musicals.'Who's Afraid of Romanée-Conti: A shortcut to drinking great wines', by Dan Keeling'One Thousand Vines: A new way to understand wine', by Pascaline Peltier'Good Night, Oscar', by Doug Wright, Barbican, until September 21'Top Hat', by Irving Berlin, Chichester Festival Theatre, until September 6'Brigadoon', by Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe, adapted by Rona Munro, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, until September 20Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Clark celebrates the life and work of Edna O'Brien with filmmaker Sinéad O'Shea and novelists Eimear McBride and Jan Carson at this year's Belfast Book Festival.'Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story', by Sinéad O'SheaProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, a special interview with farmer and writer James Rebanks about a life-changing stay on the Norwegian coast.'The Place of Tides', by James RebanksProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Emile Chabal braces himself against the barrelling force of the Mistral; and Kathryn Hughes is exhilarated by memories of dancing to Dickens in the carpark of the Horsham Odeon.'The Mistral: A Windswept History of Modern France', by Catherine Tatiana Dunlop'Showtime!', at the Charles Dickens Museum, until January 18, 2026Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Norma Clarke explores the ancient arts of hedge-laying, thatching, hay-cutting and wood-turning; and highlights from this week's issue.'Words from the Hedge: A hedgelayer’s view of the countryside', by Richard Negus'Of Thorn and Briar: A year with the West Country hedgelayer', by Paul Lamb 'On the Roof: A thatcher’s journey', by Tom Allan'Where Are the Fellows Who Cut the Hay?: How traditions from the past can shape our future', by Robert Ashton'Ingrained: The making of a craftsman', by Callum RobinsonProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alicia Rix charts Henry James's return to an unrecognisable homeland; and David Horspool on a Victorian conman and a contemporary swimmer.'Henry James Comes Home: Rediscovering America in the Gilded Age', by Peter Brooks'On Writers and Writing: Selected Essays', by Henry James, edited by Michael Gorra'Swimmingly: Adventures in Water', by Vassos AlexanderProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Michael LaPointe celebrates a century of The Great Gatsby; and Miranda France on an epistolary novel by Natalia Ginzburg.'The Cambridge Centennial Edition of The Great Gatsby', by F Scott Fitzgerald, edited by James LW West III, with an introduction by Sarah Churchwell'The Annotated Great Gatsby', by F Scott Fitzgerald, edited by James LW West III, with an introduction by Amor Towles'The Great Gatsby and Stories from All the Sad Young Men', by F Scott Fitzgerald, edited by Philip McGowan, with an introduction by Min Jin Lee'The Bloomsbury Handbook to F Scott Fitzgerald', edited by Laura Rattray and Linda Wagner-Martin'The City and the House', by Natalia Ginzburg, translated by Dick DaviesProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.