The TLS Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

All Rise Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

This week, Richard Sennett delivers a powerful warning to universities to defend their freedom; and Helena Kelly on the revolutionary world that shaped Jane Austen.

'The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influence and Inspiration Behind the Novels', by Helena Kelly

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Epic moves Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

This week, AE Stallings immerses herself in Daniel Mendelsohn's new translation of Homer's Odyssey; and Dinah Birch is intrigued by an ambitious novel twenty years in the making.

'The Odyssey', by Homer, translated by Daniel Mendelsohn

'The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny', by Kiran Desai

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Such stuff as dreams are made on Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

This week, James Shapiro celebrates New York's love affair with Shakespeare; Mark Nayler goes on the hunt for monsters; and Lily Herd introduces this issue's In Brief pages.

'Monsterland: A journey around the world’s dark imagination', by Nicholas Jubber

'The Perilous Deep: A supernatural history of the Atlantic', by Karl Bell

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Code-breakers Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

This week, Professor Jonathan Bate on a tiny Elizabethan portrait with an illuminating history; and novelist Gwendoline Riley assesses the mysterious life and work of Dame Muriel Spark.

'Electric Spark: The enigma of Muriel Spark', by Frances Wilson

'The Letters of Muriel Spark – Volume 1: 1944–1963', edited by Dan Gunn

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Let's Get Lost Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

This week, the winner of this year's TLS Ackerley Prize, Jeff Young, discusses his spellbinding memoir; and Toby Lichtig talks to the Australian novelist Michelle de Kretser at this year's Hay Festival.

'Wild Twin', by Jeff Young

'Theory & Practice', by Michelle de Kretser

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

In vino veritas Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

This week, George Berridge instructs Lucy and Alex on the noble art of oenophilia; and Lucy takes in a trio of musicals.

'Who's Afraid of Romanée-Conti: A shortcut to drinking great wines', by Dan Keeling

'One Thousand Vines: A new way to understand wine', by Pascaline Peltier

'Good Night, Oscar', by Doug Wright, Barbican, until September 21

'Top Hat', by Irving Berlin, Chichester Festival Theatre, until September 6

'Brigadoon', by Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe, adapted by Rona Munro, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, until September 20

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

A Force of Nature Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

Alex Clark celebrates the life and work of Edna O'Brien with filmmaker Sinéad O'Shea and novelists Eimear McBride and Jan Carson at this year's Belfast Book Festival.

'Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story', by Sinéad O'Shea

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Feather weight Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

This week, a special interview with farmer and writer James Rebanks about a life-changing stay on the Norwegian coast.

'The Place of Tides', by James Rebanks

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Blowing in the wind Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

This week, Emile Chabal braces himself against the barrelling force of the Mistral; and Kathryn Hughes is exhilarated by memories of dancing to Dickens in the carpark of the Horsham Odeon.

'The Mistral: A Windswept History of Modern France', by Catherine Tatiana Dunlop

'Showtime!', at the Charles Dickens Museum, until January 18, 2026

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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

Hedging Your Bets Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

This week, Norma Clarke explores the ancient arts of hedge-laying, thatching, hay-cutting and wood-turning; and highlights from this week's issue.

'Words from the Hedge: A hedgelayer’s view of the countryside', by Richard Negus

'Of Thorn and Briar: A year with the West Country hedgelayer', by Paul Lamb

'On the Roof: A thatcher’s journey', by Tom Allan

'Where Are the Fellows Who Cut the Hay?: How traditions from the past can shape our future', by Robert Ashton

'Ingrained: The making of a craftsman', by Callum Robinson