The TLS Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Handmaids' Tales Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

This week, James Marcus goes partying with Susan Sontag and George Steiner; and Laura Beers sheds a light on Eileen O'Shaughnessy, George Orwell's first wife.

'Maestros and monsters: Days and nights with Susan Sontag and George

Steiner', by Robert Boyers

'Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's invisible life', by Anna Funder

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

History in the Making Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

This week, Colin Jones explores the streets of Paris as the French Revolution grew pace; and an extract from a very special event at the British Library in celebration of Hilary Mantel.

'The Revolutionary Temper: Paris, 1748-1789', by Robert Darnton

'A Memoir of My Former Self: A Life in Writing', by Hilary Mantel

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Finding Tongues In Trees Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

This week, Ruth Scurr on a magnificent biography of Claude Monet; and Fiona Stafford explores how vital trees were to Wordsworth's work.

'Monet: the restless vision', by Jackie Wullschläger

'Versed in living nature: Wordsworth's trees', by Peter Dale and Brandon C Yen

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Punching Above Their Weight Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

This week, Theo Zenou introduces us to the heroes of Jewish boxing; and Sophie Oliver on the development of Virginia Woolf's 'frock consciousness' .

'Stars and scars: The story of Jewish boxing in London', by Jeff Jones

'Bring no clothes: Bloomsbury and the philosophy of fashion', by Charlie Porter

'Bring no clothes: Bloomsbury and Fashion', at Charleston in Lewes until 7 January 2024

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Sing, O muses! Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

This week, Ysenda Maxtone Graham on the women who fought their way into horticulture; and Mary Beard leads us down a Homeric rabbit hole.

'An almost impossible thing: the radical lives of Britain's pioneering women gardeners', by Fiona Davison

'Homer and his Iliad', by Robin Lane Fox

'The Iliad', translated by Emily Wilson

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Elegies And Energies Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

This week, Elizabeth Lowry is impressed by a study of Hardy’s late-life love poetry; and TLS science editor Sam Graydon on his ‘mosaic’ biography of Einstein

‘Woman much missed: Thomas Hardy, Emma Hardy, and poetry’, by Mark Ford

‘Einstein in time and space: a life in 99 particles’, by Samuel Graydon

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Back To The Future Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

This week, Jonathan Barnes joins us to explore the visionary work of Quatermass creator Nigel Kneale; and a wonderful conversation about literature and horticulture between Dame Penelope Lively and her daughter, musician Josephine Lively.

'The Quatermass Experiment 70th Anniversary', Nigel Kneale, Alexandra Palace

'You Must Listen', BBC Sounds

'Life in the Garden', by Penelope Lively

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Back to School! Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

This week, poet Camille Ralphs explains why she submitted to WH Auden's exacting syllabus; and Toby Lichtig joins us to preview the autumn's notable fiction.

'Daydream College for Bards', by Camille Ralphs

'The Fraud', by Zadie Smith

'North Woods', by Daniel Mason

'The Variations', by Patrick Langley

'The Wren, The Wren,' by Anne Enright

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Power Play Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

This week, we drop in on a conversation between Mary Beard and two former TLS editors; and Anne Enright joins us to talk about turning poet in her new novel.

'Emperor of Rome: Ruling the ancient Roman world', by Mary Beard

'Big Caesars and little Caesars: How they rise and how they fall -

from Julius Caesar to Boris Johnson', by Ferdinand Mount

'Palatine: An alternative history of the Caesars', by Peter Stothard

'The Wren, The Wren', by Anne Enright

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

To the Scriptorium! Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

This week, Nicola Shulman introduces the volunteer army who joined James Murray to create the OED; and John Niven on his extraordinary memoir of his brother's life.

'The Dictionary People: The unsung heroes who created the Oxford

English Dictionary', by Sarah Ogilvie

'O Brother', by John Niven

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

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