The TLS Podcast

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...

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 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 Dembo Produced 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 cinemas Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

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 Charlott...

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 Jebelli Oliver Twist & Me: The true story of Dickens's best-loved novel', by Nicholas...

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 Story: How forests have shaped our world', by Levison Wood Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast....

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 Spector In Brief: 'Postcards, translators and Esperanto pioneers', by Guilherme Fians, Bernhard Struck and Cl...

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 Bouverie Produced by Charlotte Pardy...

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 Deen Produced 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 f...

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 Da...

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-changi...

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 McKendrick Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...

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 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 Wilson Produ...

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 Scot...

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 Ryder Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hoste...

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 Priv...

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...

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/...

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 Theatre Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

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.