BBC World Service

World Book Club

Society EN ↓ 292 episodes

The world's great authors discuss their best-known novel.

Author

BBC World Service

Category

Society

Podcast website

www.bbc.co.uk

Latest episode

Jul 1, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

Louis De Bernieres - Captain Corelli's Mandolin 05.01.2006

The British author, Louis De Bernieres answers questions from an audience and sent in by BBC listeners about his novel, Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert. (Photo: Louis de Bernieres in his study, holding a mandolin) (Credit: BBC)

Philip Pullman 17.11.2005

Philip Pullman talks about his book and takes questions on his book The Northen Lights part of the His Dark Materials trilogy. (Photo: Philip Pullman. Credit: Getty Images)

Maya Angelou 07.10.2005

Maya Angelou answers listeners questions about her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert.

Salman Rushdie 01.10.2005

Salman Rushdie talks to an audience and takes questions on his award winning book Midnight's Children. Presented by Harriett Gilbert.

Andre Brink 27.08.2005

Andre Brink joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss his novel A Dry White Season.

Joyce Carol Oates 23.07.2005

Author of "Blonde" Joyce Carol Oates answers questions about her novel. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert.

Carlos Fuentes 15.06.2005

Carlos Fuentes joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss his novel The Death of Artemio Cruz.

Nick Hornby 28.05.2005

Nick Hornby talks to an audience about his book about being an Arsenal football fan Fever Pitch. Presented by Harriett Gilbert.

Vikram Seth - A Suitable Boy 09.05.2005

Vikram Seth joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss his novel A Suitable Boy. Presented by Harriett Gilbert. Recorded May 2005. (Photo: BBC)

Ian McEwan - Atonement 26.03.2005

Ian McEwan discusses his 20th century familiy saga about the need for atonement

Zadie Smith 19.02.2005

Zadie Smith talks to an audience about her novel 'White Teeth'. Presented by Harriett Gilbert.

PD James 25.01.2005

P.D. James joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss her novel 'Original Sin'. Presenter: Harriett Gilbert.

Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist 12.12.2004

Writer Paulo Coelho talks about his book The Alchemist which has been translated into dozens of languages and has sold over 27 million copies worldwide. Presented by Harriett Gilbert. (Photo: Paulo Coelho, 2010) (Credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Kazuo Ishiguro 04.11.2004

Kazuo Ishiguro joins Harriett Gilbert and an audience of World Service listeners to discuss his classic novel The Remains Of The Day. (Photo: Kazuo Ishiguro. Credit: Jeff Overs/BBC)

Anita Desai - Fasting, Feasting 30.09.2004

Anita Desai joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss her 1999 novel 'Fasting, Feasting'. Presented by Harriett Gilbert. Broadcast in September 2004. (Photo: Anita Desai) (Credit: Jerry Bauer)

Roddy Doyle 13.09.2004

Roddy Doyle talks about his novel The Commitments. Presented by Harriett Gilbert.

Amoz Oz 02.09.2004

Amos Oz joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss his novel 'My Michael'. Presented by Harriett Gilbert at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Gillian Slovo 29.07.2004

South African novelist, Gillian Slovo talks about her novel 'Red Dust'. Presented by Harriett Gilbert.

Tracy Chevalier 20.05.2004

Tracy Chevalier joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss her novel 'Girl With A Pearl Earring'. Image: Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, Credit: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images

Martin Cruz Smith 24.02.2004

Author Martin Cruz Smith talks about his novel Gorky Park. Presented by Harriett Gilbert from California in a special co-production with San Francisco radio station KALW

Amy Tan 29.01.2004

Amy Tan joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss her novel The Joy Luck Club.

Isabelle Allende - The House of Spirits 26.11.2003

Chilean novelist Isabel Allende joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss her novel 'The House of the Spirits'. First broadcast in November 2003. (Photo credit: Lori Barra.)

Frederick Forsyth - The Day of the Jackal 23.10.2003

Frederick Forsyth joins an audience of World Service listners to discuss his novel 'The Day of the Jackal'. Introduced by Harriett Gilbert. First broadcast in October 2003. (Photo: Frederick Forsyth outside his home in Ireland, 1978) (Credit: Evening Standard/Getty Images)

Peter Carey 25.09.2003

Peter Carey joins an audience of World Service listeners to discuss his novel 'Oscar and Lucinda'. Introduced by Harriett Gilbert.

Ruth Rendell - A Judgement in Stone 28.08.2003

Popular British crime writer Ruth Rendell talked to the programme about her work, including that written under her pseudonym Barbara Vine. Ruth Rendell died in May 2015. (Photo: Ruth Rendell) (Credit:Seth Wenig/Reuters)

Listen to the World Book Club podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.