The TLS Podcast

Robert Potts considers the inconstancies of John le Carré. https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/private-spy-letters-john-le-carre-secret-heart-suleika-dawson-book-review-robert-potts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alex Clark and Lucy Dallas explore the rise to prominence of Volodymyr Zelensky, the satirical stand-up turned president and war leader; and blow the cobwebs off the world’s rarest medieval manuscripts. 'The Zelensky Effect' by Olga Onuch and Henry E Hale 'Zelensky: Ukraine’s president and his country' by Steven Derix with Marina Shelkunova, translated by Brent Annable 'The Fight of Our...

Colin Thubron on an anthology of human beings straining at the limits. https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/endurance-levison-wood-book-review-colin-thubron/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week André Aciman toasts the genius of Marcel Proust, a century after his death; and Richard Lea on the mesmerising multiverses of John Banville. The works of Marcel Proust ‘The Singularities’ by John Banville Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Leith on Roald Dahl’s life of plane crashes, bunk-ups, secret agenting – and children’s writing https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/teller-of-the-unexpected-roald-dahl-matthew-dennison-book-review-sam-leith/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we learn about the final years of the Napoleonic era, poke around the exclusive gentlemen’s watering holes of Pall Mall, and discover how Roy Orbison ended up meeting his wife in Batley Variety Club. ’Napoleon: The decline and fall of an Empire, 1811-1821’ by Michael Broers ’Napoleon at Peace: How to end a revolution’ by William Doyle ‘Behind Close Doors: The secret life of London’s pri...

Laura Thompson on the much-married daughter of Barbara Cartland who became Lady Diana’s stepmother https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/three-times-a-countess-tina-gaudoin-book-review-laura-thompson/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Toby Lichtig interviews the new Booker laureate, Shehan Karunatilaka, and discovers why he killed off his protagonist; and we explore the latest developments in a Chaucerian controversy. ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’ by Shehan Karunatilaka Mary C Flannery on Chaucer Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michele Pridmore-Brown considers our quest for godlike immortality https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/hybrid-humans-harry-parker-the-price-of-immortality-peter-ward-book-review-michele-pridmore-brown/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Dunn joins Alex and Lucy to discuss how humanity began to measure the world around it; and Lauren Elkin illuminates the immense artistic contribution of Annie Ernaux, this winner of this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature. ‘Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement’ by James Vincent The work of Annie Ernaux, Nobel Prize laureate 2022 Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See a...

Bill McKibben considers the future of farming in a rapidly warming world https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/rooted-sarah-langford-sixty-harvests-left-philip-lymbery-regenesis-george-monbiot-review-bill-mckibben/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sofia Chelyak joins us to preview this weekend’s Lviv International Book Forum, in which guests including Margaret Atwood and Henry Marsh will join Ukrainian writers and thinkers in an online extravaganza; plus highlights of our live podcast on narrative arcs in fiction, history and politics and how to support a literary fundraiser for those affected by floods in Pakistan. Lviv International BookF...

Charles Foster considers the extraordinary variety of animals’ sensory worlds https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/an-immense-world-ed-yong-book-review-charles-foster/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Dennis Zhou joins us to illuminate the activism, anarchism and agility of the poet Gary Snyder; and Hannah Skoda reports from the Globe on a bold reinterpretation of the life of Joan of Arc. 'Collected Poems' by Gary Snyder, edited by Jack Shoemaker and Anthony Hunt 'I, Joan' by Charlie Josephine Produced by Charlotte Pardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we talk to Jonathan Spector about the European premiere of his play at the Old Vic; and Dimitra Fimi unpacks what's behind the new tv series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Eureka Day, The Old Vic, London, until October 31 The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Amazon Prime Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jane Ridley looks back at the Queen’s eight-decade reign Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Miranda France explores a suite of books about motherhood; and we survey the pick of this autumn’s fiction with Toby Lichtig.  ‘Don’t Forget to Scream: Unspoken Truths About Motherhood’ by Marianne Levy ‘Motherhood: Feminism’s Unfinished Business’ by Eliane Glaser ‘Motherload: Modern Motherhood and How to Survive It’ by Ingrid Wassenaar The Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Moth...

Emily Wilson considers how we address our final days Book reviewed:  The Mortal Coil: A history of death  by Andrew Doig The Inevitable: Dispatches on the right to die  by Katie Engelhart All the Living and the Dead: A personal investigation into the death trade  by Hayley Campbell https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/mortal-coil-andrew-doig-the-inevitable-katie-engelhart-all-the...

This week, Thea Lenarduzzi joins us to explain how she captured the stories of her Italian grandmother; and Edmund Gordon admires how Ian McEwan’s new novel juxtaposes an individual life with memorable social and political events. ‘Dandelions’ by Thea Lenarduzzi ‘Lessons’ by Ian McEwan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat Segnit explores the strange world of the modern rich Book reviewed:  Serious Money: Walking plutocratic London  by Caroline Knowles A Class of Their Own: Adventures in tutoring the super-rich  by Matt Knott https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/serious-money-caroline-knowles-class-of-their-own-matt-knott-book-review-nat-segnit/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...

Alex Clark and Lucy Dallas are joined by Rohan Maitzen to discuss the new novel by Maggie O’Farrell, an ingenious and daring Browning version; and Sarah Hill charts musician Vashti Bunyan’s epic walk from London to Scotland in search of freedom. ‘The Marriage Portrait’ by Maggie O’Farrell ‘Wayward: Just Another Life to Live’ by Vashti Bunyan ‘Stories I Might Regret Telling You: A Memoir’ by Martha...

In the last of our August highlights programmes, Alex Clark and Lucy Dallas talk self-improvement with Kathryn Hughes and step into the mire of Westminster with Edward Docx. And we revisit a magical Hay Festival moment courtesy of correspondents Lyse Doucet and Sana Safi. Produced by Charlotte Pardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alex Clark and Lucy Dallas look back at a riveting and prescient conversation with climate writer David Wallace-Wells; plus Margaret Drabble on the allure of roses, and Jeremy Mynott on our affinity with birds. Produced by Charlotte Pardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s look at the highlights of the last year, Mary Norris explores Margaret Atwood’s dystopian fantasies, and we hear about James Joyce from Booker long-listed novelist Audrey Magee and poet Paul Muldoon. Produced by Charlotte Pardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alex and Lucy look back over some recent highlights, including Mary Beard’s survey of the Romans at play, and the best summer reads. Plus: we hear from a cat called Vincent Price. Produced by Charlotte Pardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.