The TLS Podcast
- Episodes
- 685
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
A weekly podcast on books and culture from the TLS.
Editors and writers join Lucy Dallas and Alex Clark to talk through the week’s issue.
To read more, welcome to the TLS.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes 685
Possibility and Permission
This week, Toby Lichtig and Lucy Dallas talk to the new winner of the Booker prize, M. John Harrison, about his novel The End of Everything and his life in books. They discuss literary criticism, alien …
Show notes
This week, Toby Lichtig and Lucy Dallas talk to the new winner of the Booker prize, M. John Harrison, about his novel The End of Everything and his life in books. They discuss literary criticism, alien invasion, the tyranny of genre and being given "permission" to write at the age of eighty-one.
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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October Highlights
This month on the TLS Highlights, we explore literary lives, radical histories, gardens and the arts.Elizabeth Lowry uncovers the untold life of novelist Anita Brookner; Robert Poole introduces a remarkable …
Show notes
This month on the TLS Highlights, we explore literary lives, radical histories, gardens and the arts.
Elizabeth Lowry uncovers the untold life of novelist Anita Brookner; Robert Poole introduces a remarkable 19th-century radical; and David E Cooper takes us through the history of the garden. Tristram Fane Saunders considers the distinctive brilliance of Nobel laureate Anne Carson, while Will Eaves joins us to read his poem, The Cat.
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Feasting on fiction
This week, Toby Lichtig introduces the pick of new fiction; and Nina Raine on adapting George Eliot's Middlemarch for the stage.'The Rhyl Poster', by Tom McCarthy'Doppelganger', by Sam Riviere'The Brightness' …
Show notes
This week, Toby Lichtig introduces the pick of new fiction; and Nina Raine on adapting George Eliot's Middlemarch for the stage.
'The Rhyl Poster', by Tom McCarthy
'Doppelganger', by Sam Riviere
'The Brightness', by Chad Harbach
'Lords of Serendipity', by Randy Boyagoda
'The Death Ship', 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre', 'The Bridge in the Jungle', by B Traven
'Middlemarch', by Nina Raine, from the novel by George Eliot, Royal Shakespeare Company, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until January 16 2027
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Murder Most Foul
This week, Frances Wilson plunges into two biographies of the self-mythologising mystery man Edgar Allan Poe; and Will Eaves joins us to read his poem 'The Cat'.'Darkness Becomes Bright: The haunted life (and …
Show notes
This week, Frances Wilson plunges into two biographies of the self-mythologising mystery man Edgar Allan Poe; and Will Eaves joins us to read his poem 'The Cat'.
'Darkness Becomes Bright: The haunted life (and afterlife) of Edgar Allan Poe', by Emily Ogden
'Edgar Allan Poe: A life', by Richard Kopley
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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The Wind/Yikes Dichotomy
This week, Tristram Fane Saunders praises the form-busting brilliance of new Nobel Laureate Anne Carson; and Lily Herd on shooting stars, shipwrecks and hubris through the ages.Produced by Charlotte Pardy …
Show notes
This week, Tristram Fane Saunders praises the form-busting brilliance of new Nobel Laureate Anne Carson; and Lily Herd on shooting stars, shipwrecks and hubris through the ages.
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cabbages and kings
This week, David E Cooper on a mammoth history of the garden; and Larry Wolff takes in Macbeth at the Met.'The Garden: Our 4,000-year quest for paradise', by Jonathan Bate'Macbeth', by Giuseppe Verdi …
Show notes
This week, David E Cooper on a mammoth history of the garden; and Larry Wolff takes in Macbeth at the Met.
'The Garden: Our 4,000-year quest for paradise', by Jonathan Bate
'Macbeth', by Giuseppe Verdi, Metropolitan Opera, New York, until October 20
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Costume Dramas
This week, Sophie Oliver on Rebecca West's struggle with her love of clothing; and Robert Poole introduces us to a dashing 19th-century radical.'A Fable for Christians', by Rebecca West'Mad Tom's Rising: The …
Show notes
This week, Sophie Oliver on Rebecca West's struggle with her love of clothing; and Robert Poole introduces us to a dashing 19th-century radical.
'A Fable for Christians', by Rebecca West
'Mad Tom's Rising: The revolutionary mystic Sir William Courtenay and the last battle fought on English soil', by Ian Breckon
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Outsiders
This week, Patrick McGuinness delves into the moving and illuminating notebooks kept by Albert Camus; and Elizabeth Lowry on the untold lives of novelist Anita Brookner.'The Complete Notebooks', by Albert …
Show notes
This week, Patrick McGuinness delves into the moving and illuminating notebooks kept by Albert Camus; and Elizabeth Lowry on the untold lives of novelist Anita Brookner.
'The Complete Notebooks', by Albert Camus, translated by Ryan Bloom
'Anita Brookner: Art and life', by Hermione Lee
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Cat's Whiskers
This week, Toby Lichtig on the six Booker hopefuls; and Kathryn Hughes joins us in an exploration of feline mysteries.'Cats: A History', by Rod PhillipsProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See …
Show notes
This week, Toby Lichtig on the six Booker hopefuls; and Kathryn Hughes joins us in an exploration of feline mysteries.
'Cats: A History', by Rod Phillips
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Manderley Revisited
This week, Rohan Maitzen on Rose Tremain's reimagining of Rebecca, and a new way of seeing the terrifying Mrs Danvers; and Jamie McKendrick reads his poem, 'The Importance of Time'.'The Housekeeper', by Rose …
Show notes
This week, Rohan Maitzen on Rose Tremain's reimagining of Rebecca, and a new way of seeing the terrifying Mrs Danvers; and Jamie McKendrick reads his poem, 'The Importance of Time'.
'The Housekeeper', by Rose Tremain
'The Importance of Time', by Jamie McKendrick
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Who's in Charge
This week, Anchit Sathi asks what an "author" is in the age of AI; and Keggie Carew on the world of symbiotic slime and friendly fungi.'Togetherness: Symbiosis and the hidden story of life's greatest …
Show notes
This week, Anchit Sathi asks what an "author" is in the age of AI; and Keggie Carew on the world of symbiotic slime and friendly fungi.
'Togetherness: Symbiosis and the hidden story of life's greatest collaboration', by Rowan Hooper
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Noses to the grindstone!
This week, Mary Beard gives us the inside track on what it's like to be a Booker Prize judge; and Russell Williams guides us through the highlights of a new season in French publishing.Produced by Charlotte …
Show notes
This week, Mary Beard gives us the inside track on what it's like to be a Booker Prize judge; and Russell Williams guides us through the highlights of a new season in French publishing.
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lines of beauty
This week, we look back at the poets who've shared their work with us this year.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chill out!
This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations about rest, relaxation and reading with Emily Herring and Christy Edwall. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast …
Show notes
This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations about rest, relaxation and reading with Emily Herring and Christy Edwall.
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Summer Games
This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations with Joanna Kavenna and Nick Enfield.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A wine-dark Western?
This week, A. E. Stallings takes stock of Christopher Nolan's Odyssey, a “thrilling combination of seemingly opposite tendencies”; and Sam Riviere reads us a new poem'The Odyssey', directed by Christopher …
Show notes
This week, A. E. Stallings takes stock of Christopher Nolan's Odyssey, a “thrilling combination of seemingly opposite tendencies”; and Sam Riviere reads us a new poem
'The Odyssey', directed by Christopher Nolan
'Warm War' by Sam Riviere
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July Highlights
Before we turn the page on July, here's a look back at some of the conversations from this month's episodes on The TLS Podcast.In this month's TLS Highlights, Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical …
Show notes
Before we turn the page on July, here's a look back at some of the conversations from this month's episodes on The TLS Podcast.
In this month's TLS Highlights, Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme; Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest Brontë sibling; Scarlett Baron considers an attempt to cut James Joyce down to size; Carrie Cracknell discusses the delights and challenges of directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia; and Ben Street reflects on the tricky business of artists at the cinema.
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Moving Pictures
This week, we meditate on childhood memories with TLS Ackerley Prize-winner Geoff Dyer; and Ben Street on the tricky business of artists at the cinema.'Homework', by Geoff Dyer'The Hollywood History of Art', by …
Show notes
This week, we meditate on childhood memories with TLS Ackerley Prize-winner Geoff Dyer; and Ben Street on the tricky business of artists at the cinema.
'Homework', by Geoff Dyer
'The Hollywood History of Art', by Christopher Frayling
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Earthing Emily
This week, Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest of the Brontë clan; and Lily Herd on musical brothers at war in a new play.'This Dark Night: The life of Emily Brontë', by …
Show notes
This week, Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest of the Brontë clan; and Lily Herd on musical brothers at war in a new play.
'This Dark Night: The life of Emily Brontë', by Deborah Lutz
'Hit Machine', by Jonathan Caren, Soho Theatre, London, until August 15
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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The Art of Chaos
This week, Carrie Cracknell joins us to talk about the delights and challenges of directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia; and Hirsh Sawhney on the empathetic brilliance of Sigrid Nunez.'Arcadia', by Tom Stoppard …
Show notes
This week, Carrie Cracknell joins us to talk about the delights and challenges of directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia; and Hirsh Sawhney on the empathetic brilliance of Sigrid Nunez.
'Arcadia', by Tom Stoppard, Duke of York's Theatre, London, until September 12 2026
'It Will Come Back to You', by Sigrid Nunez
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Economies of Scale
This week, Scarlett Baron puzzles over an attempt to cut Joyce down to size; and Ian Sansom on the sobering realities of balancing the books if you want to be an artist.'A Shorter Ulysses', by James Joyce and …
Show notes
This week, Scarlett Baron puzzles over an attempt to cut Joyce down to size; and Ian Sansom on the sobering realities of balancing the books if you want to be an artist.
'A Shorter Ulysses', by James Joyce and Anthony Burgess
'Making Art and Making a Living: Adventures in funding a creative life', by Mason Currey
'How to Enter the Art World: After a late start, a first career, illness, raising children, a crisis of confidence/leaving it in disgust ...', by Hettie Judah
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Beach bonanza!
This week, Toby Lichtig joins us to mull over what TLS writers are reading this summer; and Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme.'Jamaican Forget-Me-Not', by Hannah LoweProduced by Charlotte …
Show notes
This week, Toby Lichtig joins us to mull over what TLS writers are reading this summer; and Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme.
'Jamaican Forget-Me-Not', by Hannah Lowe
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Toby Lichtig in conversation with Nigel Planer
This week, we continue to enjoy festival season as we listen to Toby Lichtig's conversation with Nigel Planer live from the Hay Festival. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for …
Show notes
This week, we continue to enjoy festival season as we listen to Toby Lichtig's conversation with Nigel Planer live from the Hay Festival.
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Live From the Hay Festival: Toby talks to Colm Tóibín
This week, we join Toby live from the Hay Festival where he talks to Colm Tóibín where they discuss exile and return, secrets and evasion, the avoidance of drama, and how (not) to end a story.Produced by …
Show notes
This week, we join Toby live from the Hay Festival where he talks to Colm Tóibín where they discuss exile and return, secrets and evasion, the avoidance of drama, and how (not) to end a story.
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Live From the European Writers' Festival with Toby Lichtig
This week, we join Toby live from the European Writer's Festival where he spoke to novelists Beatriz Serrano and Sulaiman Addonia. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Live From the Hay Festival
This week, join us live from Hay Festival. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May Highlights
May has flown by — here's a listen back at some of the conversations we've had this month on The TLS Podcast.We hear from Merlin Holland on the afterlife of his grandfather Oscar Wilde, David Horspool on the …
Show notes
May has flown by — here's a listen back at some of the conversations we've had this month on The TLS Podcast.
We hear from Merlin Holland on the afterlife of his grandfather Oscar Wilde, David Horspool on the luscious world of the lido, Samantha Ellis on Charlotte Brontë's relationship with material reality, and Dinah Birch finds solace in letters and diaries from the past.
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Antidotes to doomscrolling
This week, Dinah Birch finds solace in letters and diaries from the past, whether they be joyous, heartbreaking or down-to-earth; John Talbot reads us his poem of a very specific corner of London. A Literary …
Show notes
This week, Dinah Birch finds solace in letters and diaries from the past, whether they be joyous, heartbreaking or down-to-earth; John Talbot reads us his poem of a very specific corner of London.
A Literary Letter for Every Day of the Year, edited by Liz Ison
The Writer’s Room: The hidden worlds that shape the books we love by Katie da Cunha Lewin
Diaries of Note: 366 lives, one day at a time, edited by Shaun Usher
St Petersburgh Mews, W2, a poem by John Talbot
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Fabrications
This week, David Streitfeld takes us to Earthsea and the wonderful imagination of Ursula K. Le Guin; and Samantha Ellis on Charlotte Brontë's relationship with material reality.'The Word for World: The maps of …
Show notes
This week, David Streitfeld takes us to Earthsea and the wonderful imagination of Ursula K. Le Guin; and Samantha Ellis on Charlotte Brontë's relationship with material reality.
'The Word for World: The maps of Ursula K. Le Guin', edited by So Mayer and Sarah Shin
'Searoad: Chronicles of Klatsand', by Ursula K. Le Guin
'Ursula K. Le Guin's Book of Cats'
'So Far So Good: Final Poems: 2014-2018'
'A Larger Reality', edited by Conner Bouchard-Roberts
'Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes', by Eleanor Houghton
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
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Exclusive: Ed Vulliamy in Full
Here is our exclusive conversation with Ed Vulliamy in full as he gives us a look at the letters between his Great-Aunt Gladys and Ezra Pound.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy …
Show notes
Here is our exclusive conversation with Ed Vulliamy in full as he gives us a look at the letters between his Great-Aunt Gladys and Ezra Pound.
Produced by Charlotte Pardy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
These are the latest 40 of 685 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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