The TLS Podcast

In the last of our August highlights programmes, Alex Clark and Lucy Dallas talk self-improvement with Kathryn Hughes and step into the mire of Westminster with Edward Docx. And we revisit a magical Hay Festival moment courtesy of correspondents Lyse Doucet and Sana Safi.Produced by Charlotte Pardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alex Clark and Lucy Dallas look back at a riveting and prescient conversation with climate writer David Wallace-Wells; plus Margaret Drabble on the allure of roses, and Jeremy Mynott on our affinity with birds.Produced by Charlotte Pardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s look at the highlights of the last year, Mary Norris explores Margaret Atwood’s dystopian fantasies, and we hear about James Joyce from Booker long-listed novelist Audrey Magee and poet Paul Muldoon.Produced by Charlotte Pardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alex and Lucy look back over some recent highlights, including Mary Beard’s survey of the Romans at play, and the best summer reads. Plus: we hear from a cat called Vincent Price.Produced by Charlotte Pardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Roy Foster introduces us to a Devonshire debutante turned IRA terrorist, and Emile Chabal explains how Marine Le Pen created the phenomenon of ‘cat-washing'.'Heiress, Rebel, Vigilante, Bomber: The Extraordinary Life of Rose Dugdale' by Sean O’Driscoll'Qu’est-ce que L’actualité Politique?: Événements et Opinions au XXIe Siècle' by Luc Boltanksi and Arnaud Esquerre'Marginal Men and Micks on the Make' by Roy FosterProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we go in search of the woman who created William Brown, beloved outlaw of the suburbs; and take a look at the sporting scene in the Middle East ahead of this winter’s men’s Fifa World Cup.‘Richmal Crompton, author of Just William: A Literary Life’ by Jane McVeigh'Routledge Handbook of Sport in the Middle East', edited by Danyel Reiche and Paul Michael Brannagan'The Business of the Fifa World Cup', edited by Simon Chadwick, Paul Widdop, Christos Anagnostopoulos and Daniel ParnellThis summer we’re celebrating the serendipity of second-hand books - let us know your finds by writing to letters@the-tls.co.uk or tweeting us @TheTLSProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jonathan Bate leads us a merry dance in search of fresh woods and pastures new; and Philip Ball explains the importance of the mysterious Higgs Boson.‘A History of Arcadia in Art and Literature: Volume 1: Earlier Renaissance; Volume 2: Later Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassicism’ by Paul Holberton‘Elusive: How Peter Higgs solved the mystery of mass’ by Frank Close.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Clark and Toby Lichtig are joined by Devoney Looser, who scrutinises the naval career of Charles Austen, Jane’s youngest brother, in the dying days of the slave trade; and Jeremy Allen talks us through the art of waiting tables in Paris.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alex Clark and Michael Caines discuss the turbulent history of the Tour de France and wander through London’s richest enclaves ‘Le Fric: Family, Power and Money: The Business of the Tour de France’ by Alex Duff‘Serious Money: Walking Plutocratic London’ by Caroline Knowles‘A Class of Their Own: Adventures in Tutoring the Super-Rich’ by Matt KnottProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lucy and Alex are joined by fiction and politics editor Toby Lichtig to reveal what’s hot in summer reading, with recommendations from TLS contributors; and Henry Hitchings takes a stroll through the complex world of cryptocurrency and one of its most charismatic characters.‘The Missing Cryptoqueen’ by Jamie Bartlett. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.