The TLS Podcast

Ann Manov, a literary critic known for her insights into contemporary fiction, shares her thoughts on Sally Rooney’s latest work. Rachel Kushner, an acclaimed author, joins the conversation to discuss her novel 'Creation Lake,' highlighting its complex female protagonist and moral ambiguity. The dialogue delves into the philosophical themes woven into these narratives, particularly justice and cultural critique. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their own literary opinions amid the buzz surrounding new releases.

This week, typographer Tom Cook on the fonts of all knowledge; and Graham Daseler explores Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler's firecracker relationship.'Albertus: The Biography of a Typeface', by Simon Garfield'Baskerville: The Biography of a Typeface', by Simon Garfield'Comic Sans: The Biography of a Typeface', by Simon Garfield'From the Moment They Met it was Murder: Double Indemnity and the Rise of Film Noir', by Alain Silver and James UrsiniProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary Beard, a distinguished classical scholar, shares her insights on the recent discovery of Euripides' lost fragments, shedding light on their significance in understanding ancient drama. Director James Macdonald and actor Lucian Msamati delve into their production of 'Waiting for Godot', discussing rehearsal challenges and the interplay of authorial intent and creative expression. They explore the play's themes of humor and complexity in a post-lockdown context, emphasizing how personal experiences shape audience perceptions.

This week, medieval spells and modern cures, as we look back at some podcast highlights with Mary C Flannery and Charles Foster.'Textual Magic: Charms and Written Amulets in Medieval England', by Katherine Storm Hindley'Ten Trips: The new reality of psychedelics', by Andy Mitchell'Psychedelics: The revolutionary drugs that could change your life – a guide from the expert', by David Nutt'I feel love: MDMA and the quest for connection in a fractured world', by Rachel Nuwer'Psychonauts: Drugs and the making of the modern mind', by Mike JayProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lucy and Alex are joined by Amber Massie-Blomfield, who discusses her new book about the connections between art and protest.'Acts of Resistance: The Power of Art to Create a Better World', byAmber Massie-BlomfieldProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lucy and Alex are joined by the novelist David Peace, who explains what drew him to writing about the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.'Munichs', by David PeaceProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we take a look back at Fintan O'Toole's pre-election assessment of Keir Starmer; and revisit a conversation with William Boyd.'Keir Starmer: The Biography', by Tom Baldwin'November 1942: An Intimate History of the Turning Point of World WarII’, by Peter Englund', translated by Peter GravesProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Philip Ball assesses the anxiety about AI - and provides some reassurance; and Jane Robinson on Emily Davies, the woman who founded Girton College, Cambridge.'Moral AI: And how we get there', by Jana Schaich Borg, Walter Sinnott-Armstrong and Vincent Conitzer'The AI Mirror: How to reclaim our humanity in an age of machine thinking', by Shannon Vallor'Robots and the People Who Love Them: Holding on to our humanity in an age of social robots', by Eve Herold'The Atomic Human: Understanding ourselves in the Age of AI', by Neil D. Lawrence'Emily Davies and the Mid-Victorian Women's Movement', by John HendryProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Isaac Nowell takes us out in all weathers, Sean O'Brien reads a new poem, and Norma Clarke on a fascinating story of exile and doomed love.'In All Weathers: A Journey Through Rain, Fog, Wind, Ice andEverything in Between', by Matt Gaw'Fingerpost', by Sean O'Brien'In Pursuit of Love: The Search for Victor Hugo's Daughter', by Mark BostridgeProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Anna Katharina Schaffner on a top-to-tail exploration of deportment; and Toby Lichtig in conversation with novelist Hari Kunzru at the Hay Festival.'Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America', by Beth Linker'Blue Ruin', by Hari KunzruProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.