The LRB Podcast

Daisy Hay, Reviewer of The Dictionary People, discusses the diverse characters who contributed to the Oxford English Dictionary. The podcast explores the challenges faced by the editor, the freedom of choice of contributors, and the tragic lives of some of the unsung heroes. It also delves into the process of making the dictionary and the evolution of technology in accessing dictionaries.

Discussions on the war in Gaza, its impact on the region, and the international repercussions. The unprecedented scale of atrocities in southern Israel and the fear of annihilation. Netanyahu's motivations and the political implications in Israel. Uncertainty and concerns of Palestinians in Gaza. Comparisons to the war in 1973. The toxic political system and its impact on Israeli and Palestinian politics.

Crass, violent, misogynistic, dumb, fake – and irresistible. Tom Crewe was one of many unlikely diehards who fell sway to the theatre of pro-wrestling, despite and because of its excesses. Here, he reads his 2021 piece unpacking his youthful obsession with a sport both ‘hideous’ and ‘Homeric’.Find further reading on the episode page: lrb.me/wrestlingdaysSubscribe to Close Readings:In Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3pJoFPqIn other podcast apps: lrb.me/closereadings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This podcast explores the 19th century obsession with Mount Vesuvius, discussing its influence on poets, tourists, and statesmen. It highlights the connection between erupting volcanoes and aesthetics. It delves into the trade, fashion, and commercialism that developed from the excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum. It explores the process of naming and distinguishing mountains and the impact of new scientific ideas on society. It discusses the conflicting perspectives on volcanoes as a source of sadness and inspiration. It also explores the transition from religion to science and geology.

For many on the right, Arif Naqvi epitomises the idea of the 'woke capitalist'. The private equity multimillionaire has promoted sustainable development and donated heavily to the Gates Foundation to invest in healthcare, but now awaits possible extradition to the US on fraud charges. Laleh Khalili joins Tom to discuss Naqvi’s story, and what goes wrong when private equity firms look to profit from public services.Read Laleh's piece here: https://lrb.me/khalilipod2Sign up to our Close Readings podcast:In Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3pJoFPqIn other podcast apps: lrb.me/closereadings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast explores the misuse of statistics in UK politics, focusing on misleading numbers surrounding GDP, immigration, and Premier League odds. It discusses the impact of manipulative language in politics, the consequences of austerity measures, and the exploitation of emotions in football gambling. The importance of accurate data, analytics in football, and the failure to understand numbers, especially during the COVID pandemic, are also highlighted.

Adolfo Kaminsky, a first-class forger and agent of the French Resistance, saved thousands of lives. He later used his counterfeiting skills for anticolonialist causes and became a renowned photographer. This episode explores his life, including his rigorous approach to forgery and his contributions to resistance movements worldwide. It also delves into his early life, involvement in the resistance, life in Algeria, and work as a counselor. The experiences of a 93-year-old forager who connects anti-colonial resistance and anti-fascism are also shared.

Armed with Thom’s Directory, James Joyce strove to recreate 1904 Dublin as accurately as possible, down to the last solicitor and street railing. But, as Colm Tóibín explains in a recent piece, the novel is pockmarked with errors, only some intentional. Colm joins Tom to discuss Joyce’s deliberate and accidental mistakes, Trieste’s essential influence on the novel, and why a queer reading of Ulysses really does hold water.Find further reading on the episode page: lrb.me/factcheckingjoyceSubscribe to Close Readings:In Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3pJoFPqIn other podcast apps: lrb.me/closereadings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Octopuses,’ Amia Srinivasan writes, ‘are the closest we can come, on earth, to knowing what it might be like to encounter intelligent aliens.’ In our third summer reading, Srinivasan explores the paradoxical nature of octopus lives, and the difficulties humans have in understanding them.Read more by Amia Srinivasan in the LRB: lrb.me/srinivasanpodLet us know your thoughts: lrb.me/podsurveyProduced by Zoe Kilbourn; editing by Sarah SahimSubscribe to Close Readings:In Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3pJoFPqIn other podcast apps: lrb.me/closereadings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Lanchester, a writer who has read more than fifty books by Agatha Christie, discusses her compulsive readability and her unique experimental formalism. He critiques her writing style, compares her to other writers, and explores the presence of misogyny in detective fiction. Lanchester also delves into Christie's career and her narrative experimentation within the murder mystery genre. Additionally, he explores the theme of identity in post-war Britain through Christie's popular detective fiction.