Books and Authors

Ann Patchett, plus Magical Historical Fiction with S. J. Parris and Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Aug 13, 2023

27:38

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Episode notes

Introduction

2min

The Story of a Young Actress and Her Daughters

2min

Our Town by Thornton Wilder

2min

The Importance of Contentment in Novels

2min

The Role of the Novelist in Theatre

2min

Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch

2min

Alchemy: A Novel About Bruno

2min

The Square of Sevens in Rudolf's Prague

2min

The Square of Sevens

2min

10.

The Square of Sevens

2min

11.

The Pursuit of Immortality

2min

12.

The Uncertainty of Magic

2min

13.

I Neverland by George Saunders

5min

Octavia Bright talks to Ann Patchett about her captivating new novel. Tom Lake is the story of a young actor Lara under the spell of a future Hollywood star, but it is also about how she retells that story in later life to her adult daughters, and the power of storytelling itself.

Two masters of historical fiction, Laura Shepherd-Robinson and S. J. Parris (aka Stephanie Merritt) discuss the allure of magic and mysticism in their latest books set either side of the Enlightenment.

Plus Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah recalls the enchanting tale behind the book he'd never lend.

Producer: Ciaran Bermingham