This week, Oxford Professor of Poetry AE Stallings explores the elliptical brilliance of Anne Carson; and an interview with writer, filmmaker and artist Miranda July about her forthcoming novel.'Anne Carson: The Glass Essayist', by Elizabeth Sarah Coles'Wrong Norma', by Anne Carson'All Fours', by Miranda JulyProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kathryn Hughes introduces her new book on the cat craze that swept Edwardian England; and she also tells us about an exhibition of the work of Julia Margaret Cameron and Francesca Woodman. Plus a review of Sunjeev Sahota's The Spoiled Heart.'Catland: Feline Enchantment and the Making of the Modern World', by Kathryn Hughes'Portraits to Dream In', at the National Portrait Gallery, London, until 16 June, 2024'The Spoiled Heart', by Sunjeev SahotaProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the TLS celebrates all things Shakespeare, Emma Smith goes to see Ian McKellen's larger-than-life Falstaff; plus Rana Mitter on the immense impact and lasting legacy of the Tokyo Trial.'Player Kings: Henry IV Parts 1 and 2', by William Shakespeare, adapted by Robert Icke, Noël Coward Theatre, London, until June 22, then touring 'Judgement at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia' by Gary J. Bass.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, George Berridge is at the theatre to see Brian Cox in a classic role; and Toby Lichtig on a literary scandal with tragic consequences.'Long Day's Journey into Night', by Eugene O'Neill, Wyndham's Theatre,London, until June 8'Bound to Violence', by Yambo Ouologuem, translated by Ralph Manheim'The Most Secret Memory of Men', by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, translatedby Lara Vergnaud'The Extinction of Irena Rey, by Jennifer CroftProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, environmentalist Bill McKibben joins us to talk about the latest in the fight to avert climate catastrophe; and a conversation with the brilliant novelist Hisham Matar about his new novel.'The Exhausted Earth: Politics in a Burning World', by Ajay Singh Chaudhary'My Friends', by Hisham MatarProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Suzi Feay sizes up the public intellectuals, deadbeat aristocrats, hedonistic oligarchs and hardened street soldiers of Andrew O'Hagan's panoramic new novel; and Michael Caines on the prolific and endlessly imaginative world of Ray Bradbury.'Caledonian Road', by Andrew O'Hagan'Remembrance: Selected Correspondence of Ray Bradbury', edited by Jonathan R. EllerProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Andrew Holter takes us into the extraordinary world of Helen Keller, in her own words; and Peter Maber hails a magnificent retrospective of Yoko Ono's radical art and music.'Autobiographies and Other Writings', by Helen Keller'Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind', Tate Modern, London, until 1 September 2024Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Miranda France contemplates the final novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez; and Nicola Shulman on what women write in their diaries.'Until August', by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, translated by Anne McLean'Secret Voices: A Year of Women's Diaries', by Sarah GristwoodProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, novelist William Boyd praises a polyphonic account of a pivotal wartime moment; and Sarah Richmond explores how we may escape ceaseless toil.‘November 1942: An Intimate History of the Turning Point of World War II’, by Peter Englund, translated by Peter Graves‘Hijacked: How Neoliberalism Turned the Work Ethic Against Workers and How Workers Can Take it Back’, by Elizabeth Anderson‘After Work: A History of the Home and the Fight for Free Time’, by Helen Hester and Nick SrnicekProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Damon Galgut praises Diane Oliver's exceptional short stories, newly published over half a century after her death; and Rosemary Waugh on theatre director Yaël Farber's visceral engagement with Shakespearean tragedy.'Neighbors and Other Stories', by Diane Oliver'King Lear', by William Shakespeare, directed by Yaël Farber, at theAlmeida Theatre, London, until March 30, 2024Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Fintan O'Toole assesses what makes Labour leader Keir Starmer tick; and Linda Kinstler on the Ukrainian writer, musician and activist Serhiy Zhadan's chronicles of life during wartime. Plus John Kinsella reads his new poem, 'Rooks'.'Keir Starmer: The Biography', by Tom Baldwin'Rooks', by John Kinsella'How Fire Descends: New and Selected Poems', by Serhiy Zhadan, translated by Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps'Sky Above Kharkiv: Dispatches from the Ukrainian Front', by Serhiy Zhadan, translated by Reilly Costigan-Humes and Isaac Stackhouse WheelerProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, comedian and actor Tim Key introduces us to his new book of poetry; and Devoney Looser on the bold runaway women of early British novels.'Chapters', by Tim Key, designed by Emily Juniper'Gone Girls,1684–1901: Flights of feminist resistance in theeighteenth- and nineteenth-century British novel', by Nora GilbertProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The distinguished sociologist and cultural thinker Richard Sennett was once a professional cellist and his new book, The Performer, examines the links between artistic performance, politics and the public-sphere. We were delighted to talk to him about his own experiences asa musician and about prominent figures from Leonard Bernstein and Roland Barthes to Donald Trump and Boris Johnson.'The Performer: Art, Life, Politics', by Richard SennettProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, a special interview with the sociologist Richard Sennett takes us from Roland Barthes to Leonard Bernstein; and Hettie Judah on two memoirs inspired by a love of 17th-century art.'The Performer: Art, Life, Politics', by Richard Sennett'Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life & Sudden Death', by Laura Cumming'The Upside-Down World: Meetings with the Dutch Masters', by Benjamin MoserProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sinéad Gleeson delights in the byways of Maeve Brennan's New York; and Costica Bradatan explores the enduring appeal of Henry David Thoreau.'The Long-Winded Lady', by Maeve Brennan, with an introduction by Sinéad Gleeson'Thoreau's Axe: Distraction and Discipline in American Culture', by Caleb Smith'Henry at Work: Thoreau on Making a Living', by John Kaag and Jonathan van Belle'Henry David Thoreau: Thinking Disobediently', by Lawrence BuellProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lamorna Ash goes back to school for the latest reboot of Tina Fey's Mean Girls; and Professor Eric Naiman on the challenges of teaching in the age of ChatGPT.'Mean Girls', screenplay by Tina Fey, directed by Samantha Jayne andArturo Perez Jr'The Brothers Karamazov', by Fyodor DostoevskyProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, will George Berridge be convinced by the film adaptation of Alasdair Gray's Poor Things? And Peter Geoghegan explores how the climate emergency is being treated in Westminster.'Mission zero: The independent net zero review', by Chris Skidmore'Climate capitalism: Winning the global race to zero emissions', by Akshat Rathi'The price is wrong: Why capitalism won’t save the planet', by BrettChristophers'Poor things', directed by Yorgos LanthimosProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Charles Foster explores how psychedelic drugs are changing lives; and Alan Jenkins on the lure of the open seas.'Ten Trips: The new reality of psychedelics', by Andy Mitchell'Psychedelics: The revolutionary drugs that could change your life – aguide from the expert', by David Nutt'I feel love: MDMA and the quest for connection in a fractured world',by Rachel Nuwer'Psychonauts: Drugs and the making of the modern mind', by Mike Jay'Sailing Alone: A history', by Richard J KingProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The acclaimed novelist and her musician daughter on the joys of reading in trees, childhood gardens and what it's like to have a David Austin rose named after you.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special seasonal highlights show, with contributions from novelists Anne Enright and Samantha Harvey; and James Marcus on partygoers Susan Sontag and George Steiner.'The Wren, The Wren', by Anne Enright'Orbital', by Samantha Harvey'Maestros and monsters: Days & nights with Susan Sontag & GeorgeSteiner', by Robert BoyersProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.