At a Bethesda Baptist chapel two worshippers, separated in age by three decades, are drawn together by common interests, driven apart by divergent loves, before being reunited by the mysteries surrounding their small town. Francis Spufford describes Enlightenment (Jonathan Cape) as ‘a book in which everything is kindled into light by Sarah Perry’s rapt, luminous attention: friendship, betrayal, faith, astronomy, the drizzle on the streets of Essex and the heavens above them.’ Sarah Perry, author of Essex Girls, Melmoth and The Essex Serpent, read from the novel and talked about it with nature writer and novelist Helen Macdonald. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Held is Anne Michaels’ long-awaited new novel – following on from the 1996 classic Fugitive Pieces and 2009’s The Winter Vault – exploring, in the words of Margaret Atwood, ‘war and its damages, passed through generations over a century’.Michaels shared an extended reading from Held with actor Stephen Dillane, who played Jakob Beer in the 2007 film adaptation of Fugitive Pieces, and was joined in conversation by the evening's host, Gareth Evans.Find more events at the Bookshop: https://lrb.me/eventspodGet the book: https://lrb.me/heldpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Choirboy, drag act, grandson, mentor, poet, lover, activist, performer: Dean Atta has played many roles in his life. In his explosive, candid and courageous memoir Person Unlimited (Canongate) he describes a life lived in defiance of categories. Benjamin Zephaniah wrote of Atta’s work as being ‘As honest as truth itself. He follows no trend; he seeks no favours . . . Beyond black, beyond white, beyond straight, beyond gay, so I say. Love your eyes over these words of truth. You will be uplifted’. Dean Atta reads from his work and talks about it with writer and broadcaster Michael Rosen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In The Future of Songwriting, lead singer with Throwing Muses, solo artist and songwriter Kristin Hersh reflects on the status and future of her chosen genre over a long, hot Christmas in Australia. In a series of conversations, encounters and philosophical dialogues Hersh delivers a fierce, funny and existential meditation on the art of the song - and its future. She was joined at the Bookshop by writer and critic Jennifer Hodgson.Get the book: https://lrb.me/kristinhershpodFind more events at the Bookshop: https://lrb.me/eventspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In her debut novel Amma (Weatherglass), a multi-generational saga set in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and London, Saraid de Silva explores memory, trauma and displacement. She was in conversation with Nina Mingya Powles, author of Tiny Moons and Small Bodies of Water. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Siblings (Monitor Books) is a unique round-table discussion / poetry collection, convened by Will Harris, between Harris, Jay Bernard, Mary Jean Chan and Nisha Ramayya. The four poets explore real and imaginary siblings, writing communities, and the wayward directions of the lyric mode – writing as makers and friends about the possibilities that poetry enables now. All four poets convened at the Bookshop for discussion and readings.Get the book: https://lrb.me/siblingsbookFind more events at the Bookshop: https://lrb.me/eventspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Butler, a contributing editor at the LRB, Rebekah Howes from the University of Winchester, and former Archbishop Rowan Williams dive deep into Gillian Rose’s influential work. They reflect on her philosophical legacies, focusing on how her ideas challenge conventional wisdom. The conversation explores the everyday struggles of ordinary lives, navigating power dynamics in relationships, and the importance of confronting personal and societal suffering. With insights on love, uncertainty, and the transformative power of philosophy, the discussion inspires profound reflection.

1917: Virginia Woolf arrives at Asheham, on the Sussex Downs, immobilized by nervous exhaustion and creative block.1930: Feeling jittery about her writing career, Sylvia Townsend Warner spots a modest workman's cottage for sale on the Dorset coast.1941: Rosamond Lehmann settles in a Berkshire village, seeking a lovers' retreat, a refuge from war, and a means of becoming 'a writer again'.Harriet Baker describes in Rural Hours (Allen Lane) how three very different writers, more often associated with city living, found solace and inspiration in the English countryside. She was in conversation with Lauren Elkin, author of Art Monsters and Flâneuse and translator of Simone de Beauvoir’s The Inseparables. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Oyler, known for her sharp literary criticism, discusses internet gossip, attention economy, and the role of criticism in her book 'No Judgment' with Leo Robson. They delve into themes like revenge, judgment, vulnerability, David Foster Wallace's influence, and nuances of literary criticism.

Three Welsh writers, including novelist Joe Dunthorne and National Poet of Wales Hanan Issa, delve into Wales' literary history and the concept of 'Welshness.' They discuss unique approaches in writing, inspirations behind projects honoring Welsh towns, and the challenges of portraying Welsh culture in novels. The podcast explores the significance of storytelling, relationships, class divides, cross-border experiences between Wales and England, and Welsh literature through translation, highlighting the enrichment of language and identity diversity.