Nothing says Christmas like freezing to death in your country estate while your sisters commit themselves to fascism and/or Marxist theory! Caroline O'Donoghue and returning guest Ella Risbridger discuss the Mitford sisters, the political climate (yikes) and why we will never stop loving Nancy, Pam, Diana, Unity, Decca and Debo. The Pursuit of Love - Nancy MitfordHons & Rebels - Jessica MitfordWait for Me - Deborah DevonshireThe Mitfords: Letters from Six Sisters The Mitford Girls - Mary S LovellCaroline fan-casting the Mitford movie: http://www.workinprowess.com/2015/02/09/dream-casting-the-mitford-sisters-film/?LMCL=uu47bBElla's selection of lines from Wait For Me: https://the-toast.net/2014/10/03/best-sentences-debo-mitfords-wait/ This is the last episode of season four, see you in 2020 for more sentimentality and more garbage! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rupert Campbell Black is back, he's fighting for a TV franchise in rural Gloucestershire (????) and he's in love with an Irish teenager! This week bestselling Irish author Cathy Kelly joins us to talk Jilly Cooper's Rivals. Here, the vast cast of characters are condensed into 800 page epic that shows us that Jilly doesn't just do horses and sex - she also does corporate takeovers. Cathy talks eighties feminism, animal-loving, bees (?), Anglo-Irish relationships in English literature, plot envy, and the underestimated intellect of Jilly Cooper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why DOES Mummy Drink? This week we're talking about the Gill Simms blog-turned-literary sensation WHY MUMMY DRINKS. WMD tells the story of Ellen, a mother of two who drinks too much, swears too much, and probably likes her kids when she's not aggressively despising everyone around her. Bestselling author of Lies Lies Lies Adele Parks joins us to talk about her relationship with the series as well as school gates rivalries, solidarity between mums, being a single mother, diary formats in British literature and why "living in a society" is the basic job that everyone on earth is expected to have Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regular guest and deep friend of the pod Ella Risbridger is back, but this time to talk about poetry! In her anthology SET ME ON FIRE, Ella gathers some of the best, weirdest, sexiest poetry that she could afford and dedicated it to MEEEE!!!!! We talk about our long and bitter arguments about poetry, why it's such a easy artform to hate, and how you can change your mind about it (especially if school has ruined it for you). We read some our favourites from the book, including Our Love Could Spoil Dinner by Emily Berry, Monica by Hera Lindsay Bird, Mr Darcy by Victoria Chang, Solitude by Franny Choi. It's a break from our usual format, but I think you'll like it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is this the only Sentimental Garbage to win a Pulitzer? This week we talk to writer, editor and spiritual bottom Phil Ellis about Andrew Sean Greer's LESS, the funniest and sweetest novel to ever win a major literary prize. We talk about love, the struggles of freelance life, ageing while gay, being friends with your exes and why we're both so bad at spotting twists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week is the anniversary of our first episode, so what better way to celebrate than with the MOST requested book on our list - yes, I've received your emails, and we are doing Riders. Jojo Moyes talks to us about her horsey beginnings in Hackney, and we discuss Rupert Campbell Black, the world of competitive showjumping, and the overall genius of Dame Jilly Cooper. Get your feet firmly in the stirrups, as this one is a spirited young filly. Produced by Caroline O'Donoghue, mixed by Hannah Varrall, artwork by Gavin Day, theme music by Harry Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab your bucket and spade and your flask of ginger beer, because we're taking a trip back to 1930s Bognor Regis! Today we're talking about RC Sheriff's The Fortnight in September with Backlisted's own Andy Miller. We talk family holidays, unreasonable fears of Clapham Junction, and why it's so rare to read good books about nice people. Yes, they're boring and annoying. But aren't we all? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rev up your motorcycle and buckle in for your drink driving accident because the Sweet Valley twins are here and a trail of death and destruction usually follows them. This week we talk to author of I'm Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come author Jessica Pan about her childhood in conservative Texas, high drama, slut-shaming, ghost-writing, the romance of twins and what it's like longing for twindom when no one else looks like you. This episode was produced and hosted by Caroline O'Donoghue and mixed by Hannah Varrall with music by Harry Harris and artwork by Gavin Day. Recorded courtesy of Acast Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're exploring Sarah J Maas's insanely popular A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES series with Litwitchure maven Jennifer Cownie. This fantasy-retelling of Beauty and the Beast lets us explore horny pagan rituals, blind worms, Stockholm Syndrome, exquisite sexual tension and why NA (New Adult) fiction has become so huge with adult women. Spoiler: it's because we're all randy as hell and love magic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caroline Kepnes, bestselling author of YOU, discusses 'The Thorn Birds' by Colleen McCullough. The podcast covers topics such as destiny in romance literature, forbidden love, disappointing sex scenes, representation issues, challenges of ending a story, and a potential modern-day adaptation of 'The Thorn Birds'.