The TLS Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Visionaries Revisited Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Summer Breeze Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

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.

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

Revolutionary Roads Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

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 Foster

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Boys And Their Toys Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

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 Parnell

This 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 @TheTLS

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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Paradise Lost and Particles Found Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

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

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Making Waves: An Oceanic Austen And A Modern Orwell Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

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

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From Mountain Passes To Streets Paved With Gold Jun 30, 2022

Show notes

This week, Alex Clark and Michael Caines discuss the turbulent history of the Tour de France and wander through London’s richest enclaves

‘Le Fric: Family, Power and Money: The Business of the Tour de France’ by Alex Duff

‘Serious Money: Walking Plutocratic London’ by Caroline Knowles

‘A Class of Their Own: Adventures in Tutoring the Super-Rich’ by Matt Knott

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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Lazing On A Sunny Afternoon Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

This week, Lucy and Alex are joined by fiction and politics editor Toby Lichtig to reveal what’s hot in summer reading, with recommendations from TLS contributors; and Henry Hitchings takes a stroll through the complex world of cryptocurrency and one of its most charismatic characters.

‘The Missing Cryptoqueen’ by Jamie Bartlett.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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Kidneys, Plums and Free Love Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

This week, Alex Clark and Lucy Dallas are joined by Paul Muldoon to celebrate Bloomsday with a close reading of the very first few words of Ulysses; there’s news from the world of Ukrainian literature; and Toby Lichtig catches up with Tessa Hadley at the Hay Festival.

‘Ulysses’ by James Joyce

‘The Orphanage’ by Sergiy Zhadan

‘Free Love’ by Tessa Hadley

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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The TLS podcast at the Hay Festival Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

Join Alex Clark, Lucy Dallas and Toby Lichtig as they chat to the BBC correspondents Lyse Doucet and Sana Safi, and to the legendary documentarian Norma Percy, in a special conversation recorded live at the Hay Festival.

‘My Pen is the Wing of a Bird: New Fiction by Afghan Women’, compiled by Lucy Hannah, with an introduction by Lyse Doucet

‘Afghanistan and Me: A Female Perspective’, an audio documentary by Sana Safi

Produced by Sophia Franklin

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