The TLS Podcast

This week, we drop in on a conversation between Mary Beard and two former TLS editors; and Anne Enright joins us to talk about turning poet in her new novel.'Emperor of Rome: Ruling the ancient Roman world', by Mary Beard'Big Caesars and little Caesars: How they rise and how they fall -from Julius Caesar to Boris Johnson', by Ferdinand Mount'Palatine: An alternative history of the Caesars', by Peter Stothard'The Wren, The Wren', by Anne EnrightProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Nicola Shulman introduces the volunteer army who joined James Murray to create the OED; and John Niven on his extraordinary memoir of his brother's life.'The Dictionary People: The unsung heroes who created the OxfordEnglish Dictionary', by Sarah Ogilvie'O Brother', by John NivenProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Adam Mars-Jones on the "fractal brocade" of his semi-infinite novel series; and Amber Massie-Blomfield revisits Susan Sontag's production of Waiting for Godot in Sarajevo, thirty years on.'Caret', by Adam Mars-JonesProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last of our summer round-ups, Gwendoline Riley stalks the streets of London in the company of Michael Bracewell; and Ruth Scurron a final work by the indomitable Janet Malcolm.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's round-up, we talk to Mary C Flannery about the continuing attraction of the irrepressible Wife of Bath; and mystery writer Nicola Upson on the unconventional life and unforgettable work of Josephine Tey.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second of our summer round-ups, we revisit Richard Smyth discussing the life and the work of the naturalist Ronald Blythe; and Lucasta Miller on an extraordinary collection of commonplace books.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of our seasonal round-ups, we look back at Stephen Marche on the agonies of the writing life; and Nat Segnit dives into Adam Gopnik's survey of mastery.'On writing and failure: Or, the peculiar perseverance required toendure the life of a writer', by Stephen Marche'The real work: On the mystery of mastery', by Adam GopnikProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kate Hext on women who have run or climbed their way through the world, despite efforts to stop them; and Alice Robb thinks about how - and why - we tell stories through dance.'In Her Nature: How Women Break Boundaries in the Great Outdoors', by Rachel HewittProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, cycling commentator par excellence Ned Boulting on the Tour de France of a century ago; and Peter Parker delves into the many faces of the self-styled 'Master' playwright, Noel Coward.'1923: The Mystery of Lot 212 and a Tour de France Obsession', by Ned Boulting'Masquerade: The Lives of Noel Coward', by Oliver Soden Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, AE Stallings, the new Oxford professor of poetry, on the lives of poets; and Ann Kennedy Smith considers the different faces of Cornwall.'Sleeping on islands: A life in poetry', by Andrew Motion'The American poet laureate: A history of US poetry and the state', by Amy Paeth'The granite kingdom: A Cornish journey', by Tim Hannigan'Treasures of Cornwall: A literary anthology', edited by Luke Thompson Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.