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Sound Recordist and researcher Ian Rawes has produced a dictionary of unusual sound words and expressions from past generations called ‘Honk, Conk and Squacket’ (London Sound Survey). Old dictionaries of the language spoken in specific parts of the country sparked his interest, suggesting that people used to listen more intently to the world around them than they do today. Ian talks of a time dominated by a verbal culture of people inventing words, telling stories maybe even over listening to their environment.  Ian Rawes runs the

Meike Ziervogel is so passionate about the Novella she created Peirene Press, an independent publisher dedicated to translating foreign language short stories and bringing them to our shores. Meike is fluent in four languages but does not seek a literal translation, instead looking to convey the overall soul of an author’s text. She only publishes books that she’s read in full, as in short format fiction feels every single page must work. 

In a unique collaboration for ‘Three Score and Ten’ poet Oli Hazzard reads ‘The Graig’ or ‘Edmund’s Tump’ accompanied by music from Radio 3’s Composer in Residence Matthew Kaner and performed by violinist Ben Baker, for the very first time. This performance marks the first time the trio have been in the same room, as Matthew previously worked from a recording of Oli’s reading to create his musical accompaniment. The poem is inspired by a period Oli spent living in by an unremarkable hill, which he wants to celebrate. Oli’s collection ‘Between Two Window’s’ is published by Carcanet.

Linda Grant latest book 'The Dark Circle' (Virago) was inspired by interviews with a woman who contracted tuberculosis in 1949 and was sent to a sanatorium in the early days of the NHS. Her experience was that for the first time all social classes and types of people were suddenly thrust together, and as Linda tells Ian, ‘That’s a novel’. Linda’s novel brings to life the frustrations and small defiances of a group of people pulled out of a world that is rapidly changing, a post war Britain discovering rock and roll and television, while they wait for the ‘miracle’ cure.