The TLS Podcast

As January draws to a close, we take a look back through some of the conversations we have had so far in 2026. First, publisher Alessandro Gallenzi joined us to reveal how he turned literary detective and uncovered Dylan Thomas's youthful plagiarism, then Joanna Kavenna explains why she invented a game to write her new novel, Tristram Fane Saunders surveys the poetic landscape and Maria Scott talks us through her discovery of photographs of Jeanne Duval, muse and lover of Charles Baudelaire.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Maria Scott on recently discovered photographs of Jeanne Duval, muse and lover of Charles Baudelaire; and Pratinav Anil weighs up the case for and against reparations.'Reparations: Slavery and the tyranny of imaginary guilt', by Nigel Biggar'The big payback: The case for reparations for slavery and how they would work', by Lenny Henry and Marcus RyderProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Tristram Fane Saunders surveys the poetic landscape; and Toby Lichtig on a rediscovered slice of life in 1930s Berlin.'A History of England in 25 Poems', by Catherine Clarke'Rhyme and Reason: A short history of poetry and people (for people who don't usually read poetry)', by Mark Forsyth'Endless Present: Selected articles, reviews and dispatches, 2010-23', by Rory Waterman'The Privatisation of Poetry', by Andy Croft'Beautiful Feelings of Sensitive People: Screen grabs of British poetry in the 21st century', by Andrew Duncan'Berlin Shuffle', by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, translated by Philip BoehmProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Joanna Kavenna explains why she invented a game to write her new novel; how to survive life online; and a new poem.'Seven', by Joanna Kavenna'This Is for Everyone', by Tim Berners-Lee with Stephen Witt'Enshittification: Why everything suddenly got worse and what to do about it', by Cory Doctorow'How to Save the Internet: The threat to global connection in the age of AI and political conflict', by Nick Clegg'The Future', by Jesse NathanProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, publisher Alessandro Gallenzi reveals how he turned literary detective and uncovered Dylan Thomas's youthful plagiarism; and Norma Clarke on the stunning work of two 18th-century women portrait artists.'Mrs Kauffman and Madame Le Brun: The entwined lives of two great eighteenth-century women artists' by Franny Moyle Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we introduce a very festive issue; and Toby Lichtig on the puppeteers pulling the strings of this season's big productions.'The Pelican Child', by Joy Williams'The BFG', by Roald Dahl, adapted by Tom Wells RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon'Pinocchio', by Carlo Collodi, adapted by Charlie Josephine, Globe TheatreProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lily Herd heads for outer space in the company of a prodigious imagination; and Andrew Motion joins us with a wonderful new poem.'Collected Stories' by Cixin Liu, translated by John Chu, Andy Dudak et al'All that We See or Seem', by Ken Liu'Snow', by Andrew Motion Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Devoney Looser on what we don't know about Jane Austen; and Peter Swaab introduces a previously unpublished story by the great Sylvia Townsend Warner. 'Jane Austen in 41 Objects', by Kathryn Sutherland'Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: The women writers who shaped a legend', by Rebecca RomneyJane Austen and George Eliot: The lady and the radical', by Edward Whitley'Wild for Austen: A rebellious, subversive, and untamed Jane', by Devoney Looser'The Pursuit and the End', by Sylvia Townsend WarnerProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Camille Ralphs, TLS poetry editor and poet, shares her raw and revealing experiences traveling across the U.S. on Greyhound buses during her book tour, discussing the visible struggles of fellow passengers and the often harsh realities of bus travel. Meanwhile, Alev Adil, a writer and reviewer, delves into the cultural significance of train travel as depicted in literature, reviewing Monisha Rajesh's engaging tales from night trains and Andrew Martin's historical insights into seaside tourism. Both guests offer a heartfelt reflection on the transformative power of travel.

This week, Damian Flanagan explores the complex history of the Japanese masterpiece The Tale of Genji; and Miranda France on the eventful life and enduring work of Miguel de Cervantes.'The Tale of Genji', by Murasaki Shikibu'El Verano de Cervantes', by Antonio Muñoz Molina'El Cautivo', directed by Alejandro AmenábarProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.