The TLS Podcast

This week, a special podcast from the Hay Festival ranges from the ancient world to the 16th-century, taking in the art of criticism, the centrality of religion and eco-catastrophe. With Stephanie Merritt, Edith Hall, Toby Lichtig and a guest appearance from TLS crossword compiler Praxiteles.'Traitor's Legacy', by SJ Parris'Epic of the Earth: Reading Homer's "Iliad" in the Fight for a Dying World', by Edith HallProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Magna Carta experts David Carpenter and Nicholas Vincent tell us how they discovered a rare original of the document; and Michael Caines on a spritely new staging of a Shaw play starring mother and daughter Imelda Staunton and Bessie Carter.'Mrs Warren's Profession', by George Bernard Shaw, Garrick Theatre, London, until August 16Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this discussion, Eimear McBride, a celebrated novelist, delves into Richard Ellmann's biography of James Joyce, shedding light on Joyce's complex work and its accessibility to readers. Mark Naylor, a keen writer, explores the intriguing themes of Adam Weymouth's 'Lone Wolf,' examining human-wolf interactions and conservation tensions. Their conversation weaves between literature and nature, sparking thought on legacy, societal prejudices, and the delicate dance between wildlife and humanity.

Vanessa Curtis, an esteemed author and Virginia Woolf specialist, joins writer Claire Lowdon, who has extensively surveyed Helen Garner's works. They celebrate the centenary of Woolf's 'Mrs. Dalloway,' delving into its themes and Woolf's literary evolution. The conversation also highlights Garner's impactful diaries and novels like 'Monkey Grip,' exploring her portrayal of relationships and trauma in 1970s Melbourne. With insights into gender dynamics and the creative process, this discussion captures the lasting relevance of both authors in shaping contemporary literature.

This week, Nicola Shulman salutes the memoirs of an old-school editor and socialite; and Rebecca Fraser on an unexpectedly peaceful transition of power in 17th-century America.'When the going was good: an editor’s adventures during the last golden age of magazines', by Graydon Carter'Taking Manhattan: the extraordinary events that created New York and shaped America', by Russell ShortoProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Toby Lichtig travels to Oslo to interview Nobel laureate Jon Fosse; meanwhile, Natasha Lehrer heads to Zurich for a compelling new play by Deborah Levy.Jon Fosse is published in English by Fitzcarraldo Editions'50 Minutes', by Deborah Levy, Neumarkt Theatre, Zurich, until May 7Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David Gallagher remembers Peruvian Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa; and Laurent Binet whisks us to 16th-century Florence to explore the world of his novel Perspectives.'Perspectives', by Laurent Binet, translated by Sam TaylorProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter Holland treads the boards in Elizabethan London in search of Shakespeare before the Globe; and Muriel Zagha on a captivating tale of cheese-making in the Jura.'The dream factory: London’s first playhouse and the making of William Shakespeare', by Daniel Swift'Holy Cow', a film by Louise CourvoisierProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Margaret Drabble explores how Dickens drew on his love of the macabre and grotesque to create literary magic; and Norma Clarke takes a tour around the British coast.'Dickens the enchanter: Inside the explosive imagination of the great storyteller', by Peter Conrad'The restless coast: A journey around the edge of Britain', by Roger Morgan-Grenville'Seascape: Notes from a changing coastline', by Matthew Yeomans'The Shetland Way: Community and climate crisis on my father’s islands', by Marianne BrownProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caroline Moorehead salutes the energetic brilliance of singer Josephine Baker; and Aaron Peck on the past, present and future of the avant-garde.'Fearless and free: A memoir', by Josephine Baker, translated by Anam Zafar and Sophie Lewis'Josephine Baker's secret war: The African American star who fought for France and freedom', by Hanna Diamond'What art does: An unfinished theory', by Brian Eno and Bette A.'How to be avant-garde: Modern artists and the quest to end art', by Morgan Falconer'The uncanny muse: Music, art, and machines from automata to AI', by David HajduProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.