Freedom, Books, Flowers & The Moon

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 VincentThe work of Annie Ernaux, Nobel Prize laureate 2022Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill McKibben considers the future of farming in a rapidly warming worldhttps://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 BookForum, 7-9 October 2022https://airauctioneer.com/books-for-pakistanProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charles Foster considers the extraordinary variety of animals’ sensory worldshttps://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 JosephineProduced 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 31The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Amazon PrimeProduced 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 WassenaarThe Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Motherhood, and the Mind-Baby Problem’ by Julie Phillips’Still Born’ by Guadelupe Nettel, translated by Rosalind Harvey‘Abolish the Family: A Manifesto for Care and Liberation’ by Sophie Lewis’The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’ by Shehan Karunatilaka’The Trees’ by Percival Everett‘Haven’ by Emma Donoghue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Wilson considers how we address our final daysBook reviewed: The Mortal Coil: A history of death by Andrew DoigThe Inevitable: Dispatches on the right to die by Katie EngelhartAll the Living and the Dead: A personal investigation into the death trade by Hayley Campbellhttps://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/mortal-coil-andrew-doig-the-inevitable-katie-engelhart-all-the-living-and-the-dead-hayley-campbell-book-review-emily-wilsoniew-emily-wilson/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 richBook reviewed: Serious Money: Walking plutocratic London by Caroline KnowlesA Class of Their Own: Adventures in tutoring the super-rich by Matt Knotthttps://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/serious-money-caroline-knowles-class-of-their-own-matt-knott-book-review-nat-segnit/ Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Wainwright‘This Woman’s Work: Essays on Music’ edited by Sinéad Gleeson and Kim GordonProduced by Charlotte Pardy Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit 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. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit 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. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit 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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Roy Foster introduces us to a Devonshire debutante turned IRA terrorist, and Emile Chabal explains how Marine Le Pen created the phenomenon of ‘cat-washing'.'Heiress, Rebel, Vigilante, Bomber: The Extraordinary Life of Rose Dugdale' by Sean O’Driscoll'Qu’est-ce que L’actualité Politique?: Événements et Opinions au XXIe Siècle' by Luc Boltanksi and Arnaud Esquerre'Marginal Men and Micks on the Make' by Roy FosterProduced by Charlotte Pardy See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, we go in search of the woman who created William Brown, beloved outlaw of the suburbs; and take a look at the sporting scene in the Middle East ahead of this winter’s men’s Fifa World Cup.‘Richmal Crompton, author of Just William: A Literary Life’ by Jane McVeigh'Routledge Handbook of Sport in the Middle East', edited by Danyel Reiche and Paul Michael Brannagan'The Business of the Fifa World Cup', edited by Simon Chadwick, Paul Widdop, Christos Anagnostopoulos and Daniel ParnellThis summer we’re celebrating the serendipity of second-hand books - let us know your finds by writing to letters@the-tls.co.uk or tweeting us @TheTLSProduced by Charlotte Pardy See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Jonathan Bate leads us a merry dance in search of fresh woods and pastures new; and Philip Ball explains the importance of the mysterious Higgs Boson.‘A History of Arcadia in Art and Literature: Volume 1: Earlier Renaissance; Volume 2: Later Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassicism’ by Paul Holberton‘Elusive: How Peter Higgs solved the mystery of mass’ by Frank Close.Produced by Charlotte Pardy See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alex Clark and Toby Lichtig are joined by Devoney Looser, who scrutinises the naval career of Charles Austen, Jane’s youngest brother, in the dying days of the slave trade; and Jeremy Allen talks us through the art of waiting tables in Paris.Produced by Charlotte Pardy See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.