Books and Authors Podcast
This podcast features Open Book and A Good Read. Open Book talks to authors about their work. In A Good Read Harriett Gilbert discusses favourite books.
Episodes to download
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A Good Read: Andi Osho and Nikita Gill
Tue 4 Jul 2023
The actor-comedian and the poet advocate for their favourite books
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A Good Read: Merlin Sheldrake and Jo Marchant
Tue 27 Jun 2023
Two science writers on the books they recommend.
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Jenny Erpenbeck talks about her novel Kairos and discuses Siblings by Brigitte Reimann with translator Lucy Jones.
Sun 25 Jun 2023
Jenny Erpenbeck talks to Octavia Bright about her novel Kairos
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A Good Read: Hal Cruttenden and Daisy Buchanan
Tue 20 Jun 2023
The comedian and the writer talk to Harriett about favourite books.
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Tragicomic Writing - Paul Murray talks to Alex Clark about his latest tragicomedy novel, The Bee Sting
Sun 18 Jun 2023
Tragicomic Writing with Paul Murray plus guests Josie Long, Katherine Heiny & Jen Beagin
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A Good Read: Zing Tsjeng and Yomi 峁de
Tue 13 Jun 2023
A journalist and a poet join presenter Harriett Gilbert to talk books they love.
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Leila Slimani, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Kalaf Epalanga
Sun 11 Jun 2023
Leila Slimani, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Kalaf Epalanga
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A Good Read: Gill Hornby and Paul Burston
Tue 6 Jun 2023
The two writers talk about their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert.
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Guy Gunaratne, plus Literary Thefts with Rebecca Kuang and Andrew Lipstein
Sun 28 May 2023
Johny Pitts talks to Guy Gunaratne about their new novel Mister, Mister
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Linda Grant talks to Alex Clark about her novel The Story of the Forest
Sun 21 May 2023
Linda Grant, Xiaolu Guo and Alice Vincent
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Deborah Levy, Miranda France and Kate Morton
Mon 15 May 2023
Deborah Levy, Miranda France and Kate Morton
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Stephen Buoro
Sun 30 Apr 2023
Johny Pitts talks to the debut novelist about The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa
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Best of Young British Novelists 2023
Sun 16 Apr 2023
Octavia Bright discusses Granta's once in a decade list of new writing talent
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Contemporary Indian Writing in the spotlight
Sun 9 Apr 2023
Contemporary Indian Writing in the spotlight
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A Good Read: Donna Leon and Margaret Heffernan
Tue 28 Mar 2023
A crime author and a writer-entrepreneur talk books they love.
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Javier Mar铆as
Sun 26 Mar 2023
Chris Power discusses the last novel from the late Spanish writer Javier Mar铆as.
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A Good Read: Katherine May and Liz Berry
Tue 21 Mar 2023
Author Katherine May and poet Liz Berry talk about their favourite books with Harriett.
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Eleanor Catton
Sun 19 Mar 2023
Eleanor Catton talks to Chris Power about her new eco-thriller, Birnam Wood
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A Good Read: Sophie Raworth and Patrick Ness
Tue 14 Mar 2023
The newsreader and the writer chat about books with Harriett.
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Margaret Atwood and Sam Selvon
Sun 12 Mar 2023
Johny Pitts explores the work of two writers who have combined comedy with tragedy
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A Good Read: Janet Street-Porter and Felicity Ward
Tue 7 Mar 2023
The broadcaster and comedian discuss favourite books with Harriett Gilbert.
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A Good Read: Philippa Perry and Anil Seth
Tue 28 Feb 2023
A psychotherapist and a Professor of Neuroscience talk about books they love.
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Tom Bullough on writing about the climate crisis, and Richard Wright's lost novel
Sun 26 Feb 2023
Tom Bullough on writing about the climate crisis, and Richard Wright's lost novel
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A Good Read: James Marriott and Jude Rogers
Tue 21 Feb 2023
A columnist and an arts journalist choose their favourite books.
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Aleksandar Hemon, Roddy Doyle on Soul, and Dorothy Tse on Hong Kong
Sun 19 Feb 2023
Chris Power talks to Aleksandar Hemon about his new novel The World and All That It Holds
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A Good Read: Kate Bryan and Mark Steel
Fri 17 Feb 2023
Art historian Kate Bryan and comedian Mark Steel talk about their favourite books.
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A Good Read
Tue 7 Feb 2023
Favourite books chosen by well known guests and presenter Harriett Gilbert
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Books
Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.
How many of these 100 Novels have you read?
After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.
Opening Lines
John Yorke unpacks the themes behind the stories in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.
Finding Your Story
Ten remarkable novels about identity: Which one will help you discover yourself?
