Books and Authors

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Recent episodes (10)

• A Good Read: Steve Backshall, Geraldine Bedell 29 May 12

  Tue, 29 May 12

  Duration:
  29 mins

  Deadly 60 presenter Steve Backshall and Editor of Gransnet Geraldine Bedell discuss their favourite books with Harriet Gilbert.

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• Open Book: David Hewson, Commonwealth Writers, Helen Simpson

  Sun, 27 May 12

  Duration:
  28 mins

  David Hewson explains how he's transported the cult Danish TV series The Killing into novel form and why readers should expect a twist in the tale. The programme looks at the experiences of writers and the state of publishing across Commonwealth countries with Jeremy Poynting, managing editor of Peepal Tree Press, and Lucy Hannah who runs the culture programme at the Commonwealth Foundation. And short story writer Helen Simpson discusses her new collection of her much loved tales dating back over 25 years.

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• Open Book: Orlando Figes, cricket in literature, Wastelands to Wonderlands

  Sun, 20 May 12

  Duration:
  28 mins

  Historian Orlando Figes discusses his book Just Send Me Word, the story of a young Muscovite exiled to a Soviet Arctic gulag and his relationship, through over one thousand five hundred letters, with his wife to be. Authors Anthony Quinn and Shehan Karunatilaka discuss how the game of cricket has inspired their latest books and Writing Britain: Wastelands to Wonderlands is a new exhibition at the British Library, where they have one hundred and fifty original items exploring how writers view Britain.

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• Open Book: Jackie Kay, 50s literature and Bilbary

  Sun, 13 May 12

  Duration:
  28 mins

  Mariella Frostrup talks to awarding winning poet and novelist Jackie Kay about her new collection of short stories Reality, Reality. Crime writer Laura Wilson joins writer and broadcaster James Runcie Coronation to discuss why the 50s is the literary decade of the moment. And Tim Coates talks about his new website bilbary.com which aims to increase the capacity of libraries to provide e-books for their customers.

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• Bookclub: Ross Raisin

  Sun, 6 May 12

  Duration:
  28 mins

  Ross Raisin discusses his debut novel God's Own Country with James Naughtie.

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• Open Book: Russell Kane, Writing Britain, Updating Classics

  Sun, 29 Apr 12

  Duration:
  28 mins

  Mariella Frostrup talks to comedian Russell Kane who looks at the nature of humour in his first novel The Humorist. Senior curator Jamie Andrews talks about the British Library's new exhibition Writing Britain - Wastelands to Wonderlands. And Mariella discusses updating the classics with debut novelist Francesca Segal and Professor of Literature at York University John Bowen.

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• Open Book: Timothy Mo, Stasi files and the London Book Fair

  Sun, 22 Apr 12

  Duration:
  28 mins

  Mariella talks to award-winning writer Timothy Mo about his new book Pure. Writers Anna Funder and Philip Sington tell how they were inspired by secret Stasi files in the old East Germany. And controversy at this year's 41st London Book Fair.

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• Open Book: Elif Shafak, children's books

  Sun, 15 Apr 12

  Duration:
  28 mins

  Mariella talks to novelist Elif Shafak about her latest book highlighting the issue of honour killings in the Kurdish Turkish community across two continents. The programme also looks at novels for children of eight to twelve years. Plus more of the funny things people say in bookshops. This time round, book buyers get their revenge.

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• Open Book: Sir Ronald Harwood on the books that influenced him

  Sun, 8 Apr 12

  Duration:
  28 mins

  Mariella Frostrup meets Ronald Harwood to talk about his five of the best books, while Janice Galloway and Jenny Colgan cater for those with a literary sweet tooth. Plus Michael Carlson on the enduring appeal of the baseball novel.

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• A Good Read: Isy Suttie, Beverley Humphreys 27 March 12

  Tue, 27 Mar 12

  Duration:
  28 mins

  Comedian Isy Suttie and opera singer and broadcaster Beverley Humphreys share their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert: 'The Comfort of Strangers' by Ian McEwan, ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and ‘Flowers for Algernon’ by Daniel Keyes.

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