London Review Bookshop Podcast

Brian Dillon, author of the insightful trilogy on essayism, and Kate Briggs, a talented translator of Roland Barthes and author of This Little Art, join the discussion with expert moderator Helen Charman. They explore the art of literary translation, tackling its challenges and nuances. The conversation dives into the playful use of punctuation and how it shapes voice. They reflect on balancing structured planning with spontaneity in writing, and the deep connection between personal experience and narrative craft, offering a wealth of literary inspiration.

Tariq Ali, a Pakistani-British political activist and author known for his work in the New Left Review, is joined by Oliver Eagleton, an associate editor and author. They discuss Ali's colorful past, including his vibrant experiences during the revolutionary movements of the 1970s. The conversation delves into the evolving dynamics within the Labour Party and the ideological battles faced by leftists today. They also examine the interplay between politics and poetry as tools for resistance and reflect on the muted responses from Sunni regimes regarding ongoing geopolitical crises.

Simon Critchley, a leading philosopher and author of 'On Mysticism,' engages in a captivating dialogue with James Butler. They explore the intertwining of mysticism with political and religious disillusionment, advocating for a reevaluation of its value. Highlighting figures like Julian of Norwich and T.S. Eliot, they delve into the complexities of self-transcendence and the challenges of expressing mystical experiences. The conversation also bridges the gap between individual suffering, collective journeys, and non-theistic spirituality, offering rich insights into the mystical tradition.

Campaigning journalist Claud Cockburn – defiantly anti-establishment and proudly Communist – had as his watchword ‘believe nothing until it is officially denied’, a saying borrowed by his son Patrick, himself a legendary foreign correspondent, for his biography of his maverick father. Described by schoolfriend Graham Greene as the greatest journalist of the twentieth century, Cockburn was born at the heart of the establishment it became his life’s work to satirise, lampoon and undermine, with reports from Berlin during the rise of Fascism and Spain during the Civil War, as well as New York, Washington and Chicago, where he once conducted an interview with Al Capone. Patrick Cockburn spoke at the shop about Believe Nothing Until It Is Officially Denied (Verso), and its lessons for journalism then, now and in the future, with journalist Duncan Campbell. Find more events at the Bookshop: https://lrb.me/eventspod Listen to Neal Ascherson discuss Claud Cockburn: https://lrb.me/aschersonpod Get the book: https://www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/stock/believe-nothing-until-it-is-officially-denied-claud-cockburn-and-the-invention-of-guerrilla-journalism-patrick-cockburn

Building on his seminal lecture ‘The Shoah After Gaza’ (LRB 21 March 2024) and his earlier books From the Ruins of Empire and The Age of Anger, novelist and essayist Pankaj Mishra’s latest work The World After Gaza (Fern Press) seeks to place the current crisis in Gaza and Palestine within the broader context of the troubled and tragic history of colonialism and anticolonialism. ‘A brilliant book,’ writes William Dalrymple, ‘as thoughtful, scholarly and subtle as it is brave and original. The World After Gaza does what great writing is meant to do: to remind us of what it is to be human, to help us feel another's pain, to reach out and make connections across the trenches of race, colour and religion.’Mishra is in conversation with curator and producer Gareth Evans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marion Milner, across her long career as psychoanalyst, essayist and artist, thought deeply about creativity in all its forms, exploring fields as diverse as anthropology, folklore, education, literature, art, philosophy, mysticism, and psychology. In Marion Milner: On Creativity, David Russell, Professor of English at the University of California, uses these ideas as a starting-point for an exploration of Milner’s thought and its continuing relevance today. Russell was in conversation with psychoanalyst and essayist Adam Phillips, whose most recent book is On Giving Up (Hamish Hamilton, 2024). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebecca Solnit, a prolific writer and activist, joins investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr, known for her groundbreaking work on the Cambridge Analytica scandal. They discuss the interconnections between political turbulence, grassroots movements, and tech culture. Solnit's latest essay collection dives into the complex dynamics of gender and societal power, while both guests emphasize the importance of individual agency in effecting change. They critique the influence of Silicon Valley on culture and call for authentic human connections amidst rising technology.

Before she became a well-known novelist, Margaret Atwood was an award-winning poet. She has been publishing poetry for more than 60 years, from the self-published, hand-set Double Persephone in 1961 to its follow up The Circle Game which won the Governor General’s Award, to her latest, critically-acclaimed collection Dearly in 2020. Paper Boat (Chatto & Windus) draws on that impressive body of work, and expands on it with poems previously uncollected, revealing an artist who has somehow always managed to be at the height of her powers, and to have her finger on every pulse.Atwood appeared at Conway Hall to discuss her work with poet, editor and critic Sarah Howe. They were joined by poets Amy Key and Rachel Long who read poems from Paper Boat throughout the evening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Every morning, she wakes up to the 18th of November. She no longer expects to wake up to the 19th of November, and she no longer remembers the 17th of November as if it were yesterday.’Solvej Balle’s septology On the Calculation of Volume (Faber), thirty years in the making, was published in Danish by the author’s own press to huge and universal acclaim: ‘Absolutely, absolutely incredible’ (Karl Ove Knausgaard); ‘Unforgettable’ (Hernan Díaz); ‘A total explosion’ (Nicole Krauss). Now Faber has brought the first two volumes of her masterpiece to an anglophone readership in a vibrant translation by Barbara J. Haveland, the first of which has been nominated for this year’s International Booker Prize.Balle was joined in conversation by novelist and critic Chris Power.Get the books: https://www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/stock/on-the-calculation-of-volume-i-absolutely-absolutely-incredible.-knausgard-solvej-balleFind more events at the Bookshop: https://lrb.me/eventspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ali Smith, a celebrated Scottish author known for her experimental narrative style, joins Sarah Wood, an artist and filmmaker, for an engaging discussion. They dive into Smith's latest novel, Gliff, exploring how contemporary issues manifest in a dystopian landscape. The conversation highlights the significance of language during crises, the transformative power of storytelling, and the enduring connection between humans and nature. Personal anecdotes enrich their dialogue, emphasizing the vital role of art in confronting societal challenges.