Episodes
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Possibility and Permission
This week, Toby Lichtig and Lucy Dallas talk to the new winner of the Booker prize, M. John Harrison, about his novel The End of Everything and his life in books. They discuss literary criticism, alien invasion, the tyranny of genre and being given "permission" to write at the age of eighty-one....
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October Highlights
This month on the TLS Highlights, we explore literary lives, radical histories, gardens and the arts. Elizabeth Lowry uncovers the untold life of novelist Anita Brookner; Robert Poole introduces a remarkable 19th-century radical; and David E Cooper takes us through the history of the garden....
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Feasting on fiction
This week, Toby Lichtig introduces the pick of new fiction; and Nina Raine on adapting George Eliot's Middlemarch for the stage. 'The Rhyl Poster', by Tom McCarthy 'Doppelganger', by Sam Riviere 'The Brightness', by Chad Harbach 'Lords of Serendipity', by Randy Boyagoda 'The Death Ship', 'The...
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Murder Most Foul
This week, Frances Wilson plunges into two biographies of the self-mythologising mystery man Edgar Allan Poe; and Will Eaves joins us to read his poem 'The Cat'. 'Darkness Becomes Bright: The haunted life (and afterlife) of Edgar Allan Poe', by Emily Ogden 'Edgar Allan Poe: A life', by Richard...
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The Wind/Yikes Dichotomy
This week, Tristram Fane Saunders praises the form-busting brilliance of new Nobel Laureate Anne Carson; and Lily Herd on shooting stars, shipwrecks and hubris through the ages. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Cabbages and kings
This week, David E Cooper on a mammoth history of the garden; and Larry Wolff takes in Macbeth at the Met. 'The Garden: Our 4,000-year quest for paradise', by Jonathan Bate 'Macbeth', by Giuseppe Verdi, Metropolitan Opera, New York, until October 20 Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Costume Dramas
This week, Sophie Oliver on Rebecca West's struggle with her love of clothing; and Robert Poole introduces us to a dashing 19th-century radical. 'A Fable for Christians', by Rebecca West 'Mad Tom's Rising: The revolutionary mystic Sir William Courtenay and the last battle fought on English soil',...
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Outsiders
This week, Patrick McGuinness delves into the moving and illuminating notebooks kept by Albert Camus; and Elizabeth Lowry on the untold lives of novelist Anita Brookner. 'The Complete Notebooks', by Albert Camus, translated by Ryan Bloom 'Anita Brookner: Art and life', by Hermione Lee Produced by...
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The Cat's Whiskers
This week, Toby Lichtig on the six Booker hopefuls; and Kathryn Hughes joins us in an exploration of feline mysteries. 'Cats: A History', by Rod Phillips Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Manderley Revisited
This week, Rohan Maitzen on Rose Tremain's reimagining of Rebecca, and a new way of seeing the terrifying Mrs Danvers; and Jamie McKendrick reads his poem, 'The Importance of Time'. 'The Housekeeper', by Rose Tremain 'The Importance of Time', by Jamie McKendrick Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Who's in Charge
This week, Anchit Sathi asks what an "author" is in the age of AI; and Keggie Carew on the world of symbiotic slime and friendly fungi. 'Togetherness: Symbiosis and the hidden story of life's greatest collaboration', by Rowan Hooper Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Noses to the grindstone!
This week, Mary Beard gives us the inside track on what it's like to be a Booker Prize judge; and Russell Williams guides us through the highlights of a new season in French publishing. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Lines of beauty
This week, we look back at the poets who've shared their work with us this year. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Chill out!
This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations about rest, relaxation and reading with Emily Herring and Christy Edwall. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Summer Games
This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations with Joanna Kavenna and Nick Enfield. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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A wine-dark Western?
This week, A. E. Stallings takes stock of Christopher Nolan's Odyssey, a “thrilling combination of seemingly opposite tendencies”; and Sam Riviere reads us a new poem 'The Odyssey', directed by Christopher Nolan 'Warm War' by Sam Riviere Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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July Highlights
Before we turn the page on July, here's a look back at some of the conversations from this month's episodes on The TLS Podcast. In this month's TLS Highlights, Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme; Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest Brontë…
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Moving Pictures
This week, we meditate on childhood memories with TLS Ackerley Prize-winner Geoff Dyer; and Ben Street on the tricky business of artists at the cinema. 'Homework', by Geoff Dyer 'The Hollywood History of Art', by Christopher Frayling Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Earthing Emily
This week, Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest of the Brontë clan; and Lily Herd on musical brothers at war in a new play. 'This Dark Night: The life of Emily Brontë', by Deborah Lutz 'Hit Machine', by Jonathan Caren, Soho Theatre, London, until August 15…
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The Art of Chaos
This week, Carrie Cracknell joins us to talk about the delights and challenges of directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia; and Hirsh Sawhney on the empathetic brilliance of Sigrid Nunez. 'Arcadia', by Tom Stoppard, Duke of York's Theatre, London, until September 12 2026 'It Will Come Back to You', by...
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Economies of Scale
This week, Scarlett Baron puzzles over an attempt to cut Joyce down to size; and Ian Sansom on the sobering realities of balancing the books if you want to be an artist. 'A Shorter Ulysses', by James Joyce and Anthony Burgess 'Making Art and Making a Living: Adventures in funding a creative…
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Beach bonanza!
This week, Toby Lichtig joins us to mull over what TLS writers are reading this summer; and Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme. 'Jamaican Forget-Me-Not', by Hannah Lowe Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Toby Lichtig in conversation with Nigel Planer
This week, we continue to enjoy festival season as we listen to Toby Lichtig's conversation with Nigel Planer live from the Hay Festival. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Live From the Hay Festival: Toby talks to Colm Tóibín
This week, we join Toby live from the Hay Festival where he talks to Colm Tóibín where they discuss exile and return, secrets and evasion, the avoidance of drama, and how (not) to end a story. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Live From the European Writers' Festival with Toby Lichtig
This week, we join Toby live from the European Writer's Festival where he spoke to novelists Beatriz Serrano and Sulaiman Addonia. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Live From the Hay Festival
This week, join us live from Hay Festival. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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May Highlights
May has flown by — here's a listen back at some of the conversations we've had this month on The TLS Podcast. We hear from Merlin Holland on the afterlife of his grandfather Oscar Wilde, David Horspool on the luscious world of the lido, Samantha Ellis on Charlotte Brontë's relationship with...
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Antidotes to doomscrolling
This week, Dinah Birch finds solace in letters and diaries from the past, whether they be joyous, heartbreaking or down-to-earth; John Talbot reads us his poem of a very specific corner of London. A Literary Letter for Every Day of the Year, edited by Liz Ison The Writer’s Room: The hidden worlds...
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Fabrications
This week, David Streitfeld takes us to Earthsea and the wonderful imagination of Ursula K. Le Guin; and Samantha Ellis on Charlotte Brontë's relationship with material reality. 'The Word for World: The maps of Ursula K. Le Guin', edited by So Mayer and Sarah Shin 'Searoad: Chronicles of…
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Exclusive: Ed Vulliamy in Full
Here is our exclusive conversation with Ed Vulliamy in full as he gives us a look at the letters between his Great-Aunt Gladys and Ezra Pound. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Signed, Sealed, Delivered
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 Fort Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Looking at the Stars
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...
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April Highlights
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...
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Strike!
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 30 Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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On the Road
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 Dembo Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Grief Work
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',...
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March Highlights
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...
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Cool Your Jets!
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…
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That Old Chestnut
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 Rix The Great Tree...
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Food fights
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…
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In Conversation with Michael Morpurgo
Here is the interview with Michael Morpurgo in full. Produced by Charlotte Pardu
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From trains to treaties
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...
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Revolutionary Roads
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…
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Full Interview with Francis Spufford
Here is our full conversation with Francis Spufford, he joined us to talk about his new novel, Nonesuch. Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Escape Artists
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...
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February Highlights
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…
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Darkness Visible
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...
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A Cortège of Snails
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...
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Great Balls of Fire
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 Lazikani Produced by...
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The Game's Afoot
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...