The TLS Podcast

Episodes

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  Cabbages and kings 15.10.2026 52m

  This week, David E Cooper on a mammoth history of the garden; and Larry Wolff takes in Macbeth at the Met.'The Garden: Our 4,000-year quest for paradise', by Jonathan Bate'Macbeth', by Giuseppe Verdi, Metropolitan Opera, New York, until October 20Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Costume Dramas 08.10.2026 47m

  This week, Sophie Oliver on Rebecca West's struggle with her love of clothing; and Robert Poole introduces us to a dashing 19th-century radical.'A Fable for Christians', by Rebecca West'Mad Tom's Rising: The revolutionary mystic Sir William Courtenay and the last battle fought on English soil', by Ian BreckonProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Outsiders 01.10.2026 1h 3m

  This week, Patrick McGuinness delves into the moving and illuminating notebooks kept by Albert Camus; and Elizabeth Lowry on the untold lives of novelist Anita Brookner.'The Complete Notebooks', by Albert Camus, translated by Ryan Bloom'Anita Brookner: Art and life', by Hermione LeeProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Cat's Whiskers 24.09.2026 53m

  This week, Toby Lichtig on the six Booker hopefuls; and Kathryn Hughes joins us in an exploration of feline mysteries.'Cats: A History', by Rod PhillipsProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Manderley Revisited 17.09.2026 35m

  This week, Rohan Maitzen on Rose Tremain's reimagining of Rebecca, and a new way of seeing the terrifying Mrs Danvers; and Jamie McKendrick reads his poem, 'The Importance of Time'.'The Housekeeper', by Rose Tremain'The Importance of Time', by Jamie McKendrickProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Who's in Charge 10.09.2026 47m

  This week, Anchit Sathi asks what an "author" is in the age of AI; and Keggie Carew on the world of symbiotic slime and friendly fungi.'Togetherness: Symbiosis and the hidden story of life's greatest collaboration', by Rowan HooperProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Noses to the grindstone! 03.09.2026 51m

  This week, Mary Beard gives us the inside track on what it's like to be a Booker Prize judge; and Russell Williams guides us through the highlights of a new season in French publishing.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Lines of beauty 27.08.2026 28m

  This week, we look back at the poets who've shared their work with us this year.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Chill out! 20.08.2026 45m

  This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations about rest, relaxation and reading with Emily Herring and Christy Edwall. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Summer Games 13.08.2026 1h 2m

  This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations with Joanna Kavenna and Nick Enfield.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  A wine-dark Western? 06.08.2026 32m

  This week, A. E. Stallings takes stock of Christopher Nolan's Odyssey, a  “thrilling combination of seemingly opposite tendencies”; and Sam Riviere reads us a new poem'The Odyssey', directed by Christopher Nolan'Warm War' by Sam RiviereProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  July Highlights 02.08.2026 27m

  Before we turn the page on July, here's a look back at some of the conversations from this month's episodes on The TLS Podcast.In this month's TLS Highlights, Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme; Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest Brontë sibling; Scarlett Baron considers an attempt to cut James Joyce down to size; Carrie Cracknell discusses the delights and challenges of directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia; and Ben Street reflects on the tricky business of artists at the cinema. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Moving Pictures 30.07.2026 47m

  This week, we meditate on childhood memories with TLS Ackerley Prize-winner Geoff Dyer; and Ben Street on the tricky business of artists at the cinema.'Homework', by Geoff Dyer'The Hollywood History of Art', by Christopher FraylingProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Earthing Emily 23.07.2026 48m

  This week, Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest of the Brontë clan; and Lily Herd on musical brothers at war in a new play.'This Dark Night: The life of Emily Brontë', by Deborah Lutz'Hit Machine', by Jonathan Caren, Soho Theatre, London, until August 15Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Art of Chaos 16.07.2026 46m

  This week, Carrie Cracknell joins us to talk about the delights and challenges of directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia; and Hirsh Sawhney on the empathetic brilliance of Sigrid Nunez.'Arcadia', by Tom Stoppard, Duke of York's Theatre, London, until September 12 2026'It Will Come Back to You', by Sigrid NunezProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Economies of Scale 09.07.2026 45m

  This week, Scarlett Baron puzzles over an attempt to cut Joyce down to size; and Ian Sansom on the sobering realities of balancing the books if you want to be an artist.'A Shorter Ulysses', by James Joyce and Anthony Burgess'Making Art and Making a Living: Adventures in funding a creative life', by Mason Currey'How to Enter the Art World: After a late start, a first career, illness, raising children, a crisis of confidence/leaving it in disgust ...', by Hettie JudahProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Beach bonanza! 02.07.2026 44m

  This week, Toby Lichtig joins us to mull over what TLS writers are reading this summer; and Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme.'Jamaican Forget-Me-Not', by Hannah LoweProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Toby Lichtig in conversation with Nigel Planer 25.06.2026 46m

  This week, we continue to enjoy festival season as we listen to Toby Lichtig's conversation with Nigel Planer live from the Hay Festival. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Live From the Hay Festival: Toby talks to Colm Tóibín 18.06.2026 46m

  This week, we join Toby live from the Hay Festival where he talks to Colm Tóibín where they discuss exile and return, secrets and evasion, the avoidance of drama, and how (not) to end a story.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Live From the European Writers' Festival with Toby Lichtig 11.06.2026 57m

  This week, we join Toby live from the European Writer's Festival where he spoke to novelists Beatriz Serrano and Sulaiman Addonia. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.