Jenny Offill – Dept. of Speculation
American novelist Jenny Offill talks to James Naughtie and Bookclub listeners about Dept. of Speculation, a novel examining the minutiae of a modern marriage.
American novelist Jenny Offill talks to James Naughtie and readers about her novel Dept. of Speculation.
The novel is the story of a relationship between two people whose names we never know. They meet by chance - she’s a writer and he's an artist working with sound. They write to each other and the return address on their envelopes is always Dept of Speculation. Egged on by a friend she calls the Philosopher they end up living together in a bug-infested apartment and have a daughter. But eventually this curiously-triggered relationship starts to falter; he has an affair and in the end The Protagonist, who now calls herself The Wife, realises she has to make the best of what life has thrown at her.
Jenny talks about the structure and form of the novel, why the characters have no names - and what makes her happy.
To take part in future Bookclubs apply at bookclub@bbc.co.uk
May's Bookclub choice : The Faraway Nearby by Rebecca Solnit (2016)
Presenter: James Naughtie
Producer : Dymphna Flynn
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Sun 5 Apr 2020 16:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Thu 9 Apr 2020 15:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
How many of these 100 Novels have you read?
After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.
Bookclub at 20
Sebastian Faulks, Naomi Alderman and more select favourite editions of the programme
Sample our books and authors Clip Collection
Interviews, previews and reviews
Short stories to keep
The fiction podcast featuring the best stories from the UK's finest writers
Books
Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.
Podcast
-
![]()
Bookclub
Led by James Naughtie, readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best-known novels
