The Book Club

Latest Episodes:

16. The Hunger Games: Rebellion and Violence In Dystopian America Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

What does The Hunger Games say about the state of modern America? How did reality TV inspire The Hunger Games? Why did Suzanne Collin's novel become such a sensation with young adults?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Hunger Games, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.

Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠

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Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Lorcan Moullier

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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15. Mrs Dalloway: Woolf, Sexuality, and Change May 25, 2026

Show notes

What does Mrs Dalloway express about female sexuality and experience? Why did its modernist style cause such controversy? And, what was Virginia Woolf really like?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Mrs Dalloway, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.

Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠⁠

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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14. Beloved: Memory, Morrison, and Modern American Fiction May 18, 2026

Show notes

Who is Beloved, and what is the true historical story that inspired the novel? How does Toni Morrison use magical realism to explore the horror of Slavery? Why has Beloved become such a monumental piece of American fiction?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Beloved, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.

Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠⁠

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Jack Meek

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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13. The Woman In White: Victorians, Sensation, and Scandal May 11, 2026

Show notes

How did Wilkie Collins craft one of the earliest examples of detective fiction? What does The Woman In White reveal about the Victorian society? And, why did the novel cause such a sensation?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Woman In White, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.

Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠⁠

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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12. A Court of Thorns and Roses: ''Fairy Smut'' or Fantasy Sensation? May 04, 2026

Show notes

How was ACOTAR inspired by traditional folklore? Why has the novel become such a mass sensation? And, what is Romantasy?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of A Court Of Thorns and Roses, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.

Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠⁠

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Adam Thornton, James Clayden

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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11. The Hound of the Baskervilles: Mystery, Folklore, and Sherlock Holmes Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

The Hound of the Baskervilles: Mystery, Folklore, and Sherlock Holmes
What is the true story that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle's best-seller? Why have there been so many portrayals of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in media beyond the novels? Is this the greatest Sherlock story ever told?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Hound Of The Baskervilles, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.

Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠⁠

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Adam Thornton

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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10. East Of Eden: Steinbeck, Sin, and Redemption Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

Why did Steinbeck consider East of Eden his magnum opus? What does the novel reveal about human nature? How did Steinbeck interrogate early 20th century American society?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of East Of Eden, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.

Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠⁠

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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9. Normal People: Class, Ireland, and Heartbreak Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Is Sally Rooney's hit novel really a love story? How does class division impact the love Marianne and Connell feel for each other? Is Rooney creating a relatable story of miscommunication during first loves, or a tale of heartbreak and loss?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Normal People, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.

Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠⁠

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: James Clayden

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

8. Northern Lights: Dogma, Destiny, and Dæmons Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

To what extent is Pullman’s novel a critique of organised religion? How was Northern Lights inspired by Milton's Paradise Lost? And, did Northern Lights reshape the landscape of modern children's literature?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Northern Lights, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.

You can order and explore our favourite Folio books at http://foliosociety.com/thebookclub

Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠⁠

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Lorcan Moullier

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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7. Frankenstein: Horror, Humanity, and Hubris Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Did Mary Shelley create the first true science fiction novel? Is Frankenstein a philosophical fable? How did Frankenstein inspire countless more horror stories?

Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Frankenstein, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.

You can order Frankenstein and explore our favourite Folio books at https://foliosociety.com/thebookclub

Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠⁠

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices