World Book Club

Best-selling American author Jane Smiley discusses A Thousand Acres, her ambitious re-imagining of Shakespeare's King Lear transposed onto an Iowan farmstead, which won the Pulitzer Prize.

American crime writer Patricia Cornwell talks about Post Mortem, the first novel in her celebrated Kay Scarpetta series.

Irish writer Edna O'Brien discusses The Country Girls, her novel about adolescence set in 1950's Ireland.

Italian author Umberto Eco discusses his novel The Name of the Rose, set in a 14th Century Franciscan monastery and answers questions from an invited audience. (Photo: Umberto Eco)

American crime writer Sara Paretsky talks to Harriett Gilbert about her detective novel 'Indemnity Only'.

A special fifth-anniversary edition of the World Book Club with the Sri Lankan-born, Canadian author Michael Ondaatje who discusses his best-loved novel 'The English Patient'. Image: Michael Ondaatje, Credit: Prakash SinghAFP/Getty Images

Harriett Gilbert talks to American author Armistead Maupin about his novel Tales of the City.

Thomas Keneally discusses his novel Schindler's Ark published in 1982 - released as Schindler's List in the USA. It is based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, who is credited with saving hundreds of Jews in Poland and Czechoslovakia from death during World War II by employing them in his factory. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert. (Photo: Tom Keneally) (Credit: BBC)

Richard Dawkins answers questions from an audience and sent in by BBC listeners about his international best-seller, The Selfish Gene. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert.

Wole Soyinka talks about his memoirs Ake: The Years of Childhood. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert

World Book club with author Mario Vargas Llosa.

Author Irvine Welsh talks about his internationally best-selling novel Trainspotting and If You Liked School, You'll Love Work. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert.

Scottish author, Iain Banks answers questions from an audience and sent in by BBC listeners about his controversial first novel, The Wasp Factory. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert.

Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi, talked to World Book Club in April 2014. His fantasy novel tells the tale of the shipwreck and survival of Pi Patel, a 16-year-ld boy - also a hyena, a zebra with a broken leg, an orang-utan and a huge Bengal tiger. Yann was born in Spain and lives in Canada. The book has since been adapted as a film by Ang Lee.

Rose Tremain answers questions from an audience and sent in by World Service listeners about her international best-seller, Restoration, set in the time of Charles II in 17th Century England. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert.

William Boyd discusses his novel Brazzaville Beach with Harriett Gilbert

Interview with special guest John le Carre about his recent novel “The Perfect Spy” Presenter: Harriett Gilbert.

Presenter: Harriett Gilbert. Frank McCourt joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss his book Angela's Ashes.

Arnold Wesker joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss his classic play Chicken Soup with Barley. Presented by Harriett Gilbert.

Presenter: Harriett Gilbert. Ian Rankin joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss his novel Black and Blue.

The World Book Club talks to author Joanna Trollope about her book The Rector's Wife. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert.

Kurt Vonnegut joins an audience of World Service listeners to answer questions about his novel Slaughterhouse-Five

Orhan Pamuk joins an audience of World Service listeners to answer questions about his novel My Name is Red (Benim Adım Kırmızı).

From the British Library in London, Alexander McCall Smith talks to the programme as well as an audience for a question and answer session. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert

Scott Turow joins an audience of World Service listeners to answer questions about his 1987 crime novel Presumed Innocent.