The TLS Podcast

This week, Toby Lichtig on the six Booker hopefuls; and Kathryn Hughes joins us in an exploration of feline mysteries. 'Cats: A History', by Rod Phillips Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Rohan Maitzen on Rose Tremain's reimagining of Rebecca, and a new way of seeing the terrifying Mrs Danvers; and Jamie McKendrick reads his poem, 'The Importance of Time'. 'The Housekeeper', by Rose Tremain 'The Importance of Time', by Jamie McKendrick Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Anchit Sathi asks what an "author" is in the age of AI; and Keggie Carew on the world of symbiotic slime and friendly fungi. 'Togetherness: Symbiosis and the hidden story of life's greatest collaboration', by Rowan Hooper Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mary Beard gives us the inside track on what it's like to be a Booker Prize judge; and Russell Williams guides us through the highlights of a new season in French publishing. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we look back at the poets who've shared their work with us this year. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations about rest, relaxation and reading with Emily Herring and Christy Edwall. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations with Joanna Kavenna and Nick Enfield. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, A. E. Stallings takes stock of Christopher Nolan's Odyssey, a “thrilling combination of seemingly opposite tendencies”; and Sam Riviere reads us a new poem 'The Odyssey', directed by Christopher Nolan 'Warm War' by Sam Riviere Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before we turn the page on July, here's a look back at some of the conversations from this month's episodes on The TLS Podcast. In this month's TLS Highlights, Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme; Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest Brontë sibling; Scarlett Baron considers an attempt to cut James Joyce down to size; Carrie Cracknell discusses the delights and challenges of directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia; and Ben Street reflects on the tricky business of artists at the cinema. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we meditate on childhood memories with TLS Ackerley Prize-winner Geoff Dyer; and Ben Street on the tricky business of artists at the cinema. 'Homework', by Geoff Dyer 'The Hollywood History of Art', by Christopher Frayling Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest of the Brontë clan; and Lily Herd on musical brothers at war in a new play. 'This Dark Night: The life of Emily Brontë', by Deborah Lutz 'Hit Machine', by Jonathan Caren, Soho Theatre, London, until August 15 Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Carrie Cracknell joins us to talk about the delights and challenges of directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia; and Hirsh Sawhney on the empathetic brilliance of Sigrid Nunez. 'Arcadia', by Tom Stoppard, Duke of York's Theatre, London, until September 12 2026 'It Will Come Back to You', by Sigrid Nunez Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Scarlett Baron puzzles over an attempt to cut Joyce down to size; and Ian Sansom on the sobering realities of balancing the books if you want to be an artist. 'A Shorter Ulysses', by James Joyce and Anthony Burgess 'Making Art and Making a Living: Adventures in funding a creative life', by Mason Currey 'How to Enter the Art World: After a late start, a first career, illness, raising children, a crisis of confidence/leaving it in disgust ...', by Hettie Judah Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Toby Lichtig joins us to mull over what TLS writers are reading this summer; and Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme. 'Jamaican Forget-Me-Not', by Hannah Lowe Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we continue to enjoy festival season as we listen to Toby Lichtig's conversation with Nigel Planer live from the Hay Festival. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we join Toby live from the Hay Festival where he talks to Colm Tóibín where they discuss exile and return, secrets and evasion, the avoidance of drama, and how (not) to end a story. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we join Toby live from the European Writer's Festival where he spoke to novelists Beatriz Serrano and Sulaiman Addonia. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, join us live from Hay Festival. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May has flown by — here's a listen back at some of the conversations we've had this month on The TLS Podcast. We hear from Merlin Holland on the afterlife of his grandfather Oscar Wilde, David Horspool on the luscious world of the lido, Samantha Ellis on Charlotte Brontë's relationship with material reality, and Dinah Birch finds solace in letters and diaries from the past. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Dinah Birch finds solace in letters and diaries from the past, whether they be joyous, heartbreaking or down-to-earth; John Talbot reads us his poem of a very specific corner of London. A Literary Letter for Every Day of the Year, edited by Liz Ison The Writer’s Room: The hidden worlds that shape the books we love by Katie da Cunha Lewin Diaries of Note: 366 lives, one day at a time, edited by Shaun Usher St Petersburgh Mews, W2, a poem by John Talbot Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Streitfeld takes us to Earthsea and the wonderful imagination of Ursula K. Le Guin; and Samantha Ellis on Charlotte Brontë's relationship with material reality. 'The Word for World: The maps of Ursula K. Le Guin', edited by So Mayer and Sarah Shin 'Searoad: Chronicles of Klatsand', by Ursula K. Le Guin 'Ursula K. Le Guin's Book of Cats' 'So Far So Good: Final Poems: 2014-2018' 'A Larger Reality', edited by Conner Bouchard-Roberts 'Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes', by Eleanor Houghton Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here is our exclusive conversation with Ed Vulliamy in full as he gives us a look at the letters between his Great-Aunt Gladys and Ezra Pound. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ed Vulliamy gives us an exclusive look at the letters between his Great-Aunt Gladys and Ezra Pound; and David Horspool dips a toe into the luscious world of the lido. 'Lido Land: How Britain Learned to Make a Splash', by Tom Fort Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Toby Lichtig on a constellation of new fiction; and Merlin Holland on the afterlife of his grandfather, Oscar Wilde. 'The Palm House', by Gwendoline Riley 'Devotions: Eight Stories', by Lucy Caldwell 'The Tribe', by Michael Arditti 'Lázár', by Nelio Biedermann, translated by Jamie Bulloch 'You Are the Führer's Unrequited Love', by Jean-Noël Orengo, translated by David Watson 'After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal', by Merlin Holland Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 information.

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 Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Blincoe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Claire Taylor; 'Rapture of the deep', by Robert Irwin, completed by Andrew Crumey; 'Here comes the sun', by Bill McKibben; 'Queens at war', by Alison Weir; 'Interrupted journeys', by Adrian Potter; 'Literature and epistemic injustice', by Sarah Colvin; 'Invading the American canon', by Muireann Maguire; 'Nabokov and the Russian diaspora', by Bryan Karetnyk Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 full colour', by Mark Haddon Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Darra Goldstein on the hidden properties of kimchi and sourdough. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-changing power of microbes', by Tim Spector Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/privacy for more information.

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

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 Scott talks us through her discovery of photographs of Jeanne Duval, muse and lover of Charles Baudelaire. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Privatisation of Poetry', by Andy Croft 'Beautiful Feelings of Sensitive People: Screen grabs of British poetry in the 21st century', by Andrew Duncan 'Berlin Shuffle', by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, translated by Philip Boehm Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.