About this podcast
Led by James Naughtie, a group of readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best-known novels
Episodes
The newest 50 of 355 episodes
- Matt Haig · 29 minPresenter James Naughtie and Bookclub readers talk to the award-winning writer Matt Haig about his best-selling novel, The Midnight Library. Published in 2020 the novel follows…
- Daniel Mason · 28 minLed by presenter James Naughtie, the American writer, Daniel Mason, takes questions from a Bookclub audience about his 2023 novel, North Woods. North Woods is the story of a…
- Irvine Welsh · 28 minThe award-winning Scottish writer Irvine Welsh speaks to Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, about his era-defining 1993 debut, Trainspotting. Following a non-linear plot and…
- Janice Hallett · 28 minLed by presenter James Naughtie, the award-winning writer Janice Hallett speaks to a Bookclub audience about her debut novel, The Appeal. Published in 2021 the novel -- which is…
- Anne Sebba · 29 minHistorian and writer Anne Sebba, speaks this month to Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, about her award-winning biography, That Woman: The life of Wallis Simpson, the…
- Kirstin Innes · 28 minThe award-winning Scottish writer, Kirstin Innes, speaks to Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, about her second novel, Scabby Queen. The book, published in 2020, explores the…
- Nicola Barker · 29 minDescribed as a book of startling originality, the writer Nicola Barker speaks to Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, about her 838-page epic novel, Darkmans, which was…
- Dorothy Koomson · 28 minLed by presenter James Naughtie, the writer Dorothy Koomson takes questions from a Bookclub audience about her 2010 novel The Ice Cream Girls. The novel follows the characters of…
- Alan Cumming on Alasdair Gray's Lanark · 29 minLed by James Naughtie, this special episode of Bookclub celebrates the late Alasdair Gray's 1981 masterpiece, Lanark, at the Pitlochry Winter Words Festival, with the actor Alan…
- Sarah Bernstein · 35 minThe Canadian writer Sarah Bernstein speaks to a Bookclub audience about her Booker-shortlisted 2023 novel, Study For Obedience. Published by Granta, the story follows an unnamed…
- Rónán Hession · 29 minPresented by James Naughtie, the Irish writer Rónán Hession takes questions from a Bookclub audience on his debut novel, Leonard and Hungry Paul. The book was shortlisted for the…
- Emma Thompson: Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility · 37 minThe award-winning actress Emma Thompson takes questions on Sense and Sensibility in this special episode of Bookclub to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth. Sense…
- Hallie Rubenhold · 28 minPresented by James Naughtie, the writer and historian Hallie Rubenhold takes questions from a Bookclub audience on her prize-winning book The Five: The Untold Lives Of The Women…
- John Niven · 29 minLed by presenter, James Naughtie, the writer John Niven speaks to Radio 4's Bookclub programme about his 2008 novel, Kill Your Friends, which is a darkly comic satire of the UK…
- Paula Hawkins · 29 minPresented by James Naughtie, Radio 4's Bookclub, speaks to the writer Paula Hawkins about her debut thriller The Girl On The Train. The book was published by Doubleday in 2015 to…
- Kit de Waal · 29 minPresented by James Naughtie, BBC Radio 4's Bookclub, speaks to the award-winning writer Kit de Waal about her heart-rending debut novel, My Name Is Leon. Published in 2016 by…
- Tom Holland · 29 minPresented by James Naughtie, Bookclub speaks to the award-winning writer, historian, and podcaster, Tom Holland, about his book Rubicon, which looks at the triumph and tragedy of…
- Joanne Harris: Chocolat · 29 minLed by presenter James Naughtie, the writer Joanne Harris takes questions from a BBC Bookclub audience on her best-selling novel, Chocolat. Published in 1999, the book follows…
- Natalie Haynes · 29 minLed by presenter James Naughtie, a BBC Bookclub audience in Glasgow speaks to the author Natalie Haynes about her 2019 novel - A Thousand Ships - which retells the ancient Greek…
- Michel Faber · 28 minThis month BBC Radio 4's Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the writer Michel Faber about his debut novel, Under the Skin. Published in the year 2000 by Canongate…
- Christopher Brookmyre · 29 minThis month, Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the author Christopher Brookmyre, as he takes questions from a live BBC audience about his debut novel, Quite Ugly…
- Sara Collins · 29 minThis month, BBC Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the writer Sara Collins, as she takes questions from a live audience about her award-winning debut novel, The…
- Richard Osman · 28 minPresented by James Naughtie, BBC Bookclub speaks to the writer Richard Osman about his crime-fiction novel The Thursday Murder Club, which sold millions of copies, and has been…
- Alan Warner: Morvern Callar · 30 minAward-winning writer Alan Warner takes questions from Radio 4's Bookclub audience about his first-person, pacey novel, Morvern Callar, which was written in 1995 when Warner was…
- Carys Davies: The Mission House · 29 minThe writer Carys Davies talks to readers about her beautifully-crafted novel, The Mission House, which follows the character of Hilary Byrd, a British librarian in his fifties…
- Susanna Clarke: Piranesi · 28 minSusanna Clarke won the Women's Prize for Fiction with her novel Piranesi. She joins James Naughtie and a group of readers to answer their questions about this intriguing…
- Ken Follett: A Column of Fire · 28 minBestselling novelist Ken Follett joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss his historical novel A Column of Fire, the third in his hugely successful Kingsbridge series. It’s a…
- Ayobami Adebayo · 28 minAyobami Adebayo talks to James Naughtie and readers about her novel, Stay With Me, a moving story of loss and motherhood. Set against the backdrop of tumultuous political events…
- Marlon James: A Brief History of Seven Killings · 28 minMarlon James answers readers' questions about his award-winning novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings. The novel, which is narrated by multiple characters, opens in Jamaica in…
- Lucy Caldwell: These Days · 28 minCelebrated novelist and short story writer Lucy Caldwell joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss These Days. Set in 1941, it focusses on the lives of two sisters living…
- Nicholas Shakespeare: Six Minutes in May · 28 minJames Naughtie and readers quiz Nicholas Shakespeare about his book, Six Minutes In May: How Churchill Unexpectedly Became Prime Minister. It chronicles the dramatic political…
- Clare Chambers: Small Pleasures · 28 minClare Chambers talks to James Naughtie and readers about her bestselling novel, Small Pleasures. Set in the London suburbs in the 1950s, it tells the story of Jean Swinney, a…
- Ann Cleeves: Hidden Depths · 28 minBookclub travels to Northumberland to meet best-selling crime writer Ann Cleeves. She joins James Naughtie and listeners to discuss her novel, Hidden Depths: Detective Inspector…
- Graeme Macrae Burnet: His Bloody Project · 28 minGraeme Macrae Burnet joins James Naughtie and readers to reveal the secrets behind his award-winning historical novel, His Bloody Project. Set in the Scottish Highlands in 1869…
- The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, with Elly Griffiths · 28 minMarking 200 years since the birth of Wilkie Collins, crime writer, and Collins admirer, Elly Griffiths discusses one of his best known works -The Moonstone - with James Naughtie…
- Donal Ryan: The Spinning Heart · 28 minDonal Ryan discusses his book The Spinning Heart with a group of readers, It's a powerful, moving novel told through twenty one individual voices. Set in Ireland in the immediate…
- Katherine Heiny: Standard Deviation · 28 minKatherine Heiny answers readers questions about Standard Deviation, her hilarious novel about marriage, parenting and the road not travelled. Audra is married to Graham, who is…
- Bernardine Evaristo: Mr Loverman · 28 minBernardine Evaristo joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss Mr Loverman, her 2013 novel about Barrington Walker, a married man with a secret life. Ever since his teens in…
- Denise Mina: The Long Drop · 27 minJames Naughtie is joined by Denise Mina to talk about her book The Long Drop. This intriguing true-crime story is set in 1950s Glasgow when notorious serial killer Peter Manuel…
- Mick Herron: Slow Horses · 28 minMick Herron answers readers' questions about his novel, Slow Horses, the first in his hugely popular Slough House series. In it we meet the 'Slow Horses’ for the first time…
- Julian Barnes: Arthur and George · 28 minTo mark our 25th anniversary, Julian Barnes returns to Bookclub. He’s answering readers' questions about his Booker-shortlisted novel Arthur and George. It's based on real events…
- Mary Lawson: Crow Lake · 28 minMary Lawson joins James Naughtie and a group of readers to answer questions about her novel, Crow Lake. An international bestseller, it tells the story of four siblings, orphaned…
- Sarah Winman: Tin Man · 28 minJames Naughtie and readers are joined by novelist Sarah Winman, answering questions about her novel Tin Man. It's a moving and intimate portrait of three characters, Michael…
- Tan Twan Eng: The Garden of Evening Mists · 28 minTan Twan Eng talks to James Naughtie and a group of readers about The Garden of Evening Mists. A lyrical novel set largely in 1950s Malay (now Malaysia), it tells the story of…
- Nadifa Mohamed: The Fortune Men · 28 minNadifa Mohamed joins James Naughtie and readers to talk about her award-winning novel The Fortune Men. Set in Cardiff in the 1950s, the novel is based on the real-life trial of…
- Cal Flyn: Islands of Abandonment · 28 minJames Naughtie and a group of readers talk to Cal Flyn about her acclaimed book, Islands of Abandonment, an exploration of places which have been reclaimed by nature. She talks…
- Ross King: Brunelleschi's Dome · 28 minHistorian Ross King answers listener questions about his book Brunelleschi's Dome. An incredible story of one man's determination to build an apparently impossible structure…
- AJ Pearce: Dear Mrs Bird · 28 minJames Naughtie is joined by writer A J Pearce and a group of listeners, as she answers their questions about her bestselling novel Dear Mrs Bird. Set in London in the 1940s, it’s…
- Juan Gabriel Vasquez: The Sound of Things Falling · 28 minJuan Gabriel Vasquez answers audience questions about The Sound of Things Falling. Set in Colombia, the novel examines the personal and private impact of the drug wars that…
- Curtis Sittenfeld: American Wife · 28 minCurtis Sittenfeld answers listener questions about American Wife, a novel which follows Alice Lindgren's path from school librarian to First Lady, and is based on the life of…
