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Literary Criticism
A special edition exploring book criticism and why it matters.
Richard Powers and Nature Writing
Alex Clark talks to Richard Powers about his new novel, The Overstory.
John Boyne, Mrs Gaskell revisited, Mutism in fiction
John Boyne talks to Mariella Frostrup about his new novel A Ladder to the Sky.
Lavinia Greenlaw, Venezuelan literature, The case for graphic novels
The best new fiction and non-fiction, talking to writers and unearthing lost classics.
Gail Jones, 1930s' crime fiction, Marlowe and Holmes revisited
Gail Jones on her new novel The Death of Noah Glass, and new life for Marlowe and Holmes.
Open Book 20th Anniversary Special
Mariella Frostrup and guests celebrate 20 years of reading, writing and Open Book
Hector Abad, Horror fiction
Colombian novelist Hector Abad joins Mariella Frostrup.
Liane Moriarty
Liane Moriarty, best-selling author of Big Little Lies, joins Alex Clark.
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Minette Walters, Books in art
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah discusses his debut short story collection Friday Black
Fiction following the Armistice; Beowulf reimagined; James Daunt
Exploring literary responses to the Great War in the immediate aftermath of the Armistice.
Barbara Kingsolver, Northern Irish writing, India’s gay fiction
Best-selling novelist Barbara Kingsolver talks to Mariella Frostrup about her new novel.
Lee Child; Southall set thrillers; crime picks for teenagers
Jack Reacher author Lee Child talks to Mariella Frostrup.
Donald S Murray, Lyrics and poetry, Publishing in Iceland and Greenland
Donald S Murray discusses his novel As the Women Lay Dreaming, set on the Isle of Lewis
Joyce Carol Oates, The Wind in the Willows, Orphans in fiction
Joyce Carol Oates discusses her latest novel, Hazards of Time Travel
Festive short stories, Hangovers in fiction, Christmas novels, Book choices for 2019
Why the classic short story has such strong associations with winter.
John Steinbeck Special
Celebrating the work of author John Steinbeck on the 50th anniversary of his death.
Oyinkan Braithwaite, Books as clutter, Kafka's legacy, True crime in fiction
Oyinkan Braithwaite discusses her Lagos-set debut novel, My Sister the Serial Killer.
Caribbean Writing with Claire Adam, Jamaica Kincaid and Jacob Ross
A special programme celebrating the breadth and power of writing from the Caribbean
Chloe Aridjis, Adam Foulds and Leo Benedictus on fictional stalkers, Gay's the Word Bookshop at 40
Chloe Aridjis discusses her novel Sea Monsters, a coming of age story set in 1980s Mexico.
Kristen Roupenian, Javier Cercas, Quakers in fiction
Niklas Natt Och Dag, Mohammed Hanif on Catch 22, Emma Darwin
Swedish novelist Niklas Natt Och Dag discusses his novel The Wolf and the Watchman.
Whitney Scharer, Fashion in fiction, Novels by Iraq War veterans
Whitney Scharer discusses her novel about the love affair between Lee Miller and Man Ray.
What makes a Jewish book, Colm Toibin on Natalia Ginzburg, Censorship in Kuwait
Novelists Charlotte Mendelson and Nathan Englander discuss what makes a book Jewish.
Max Porter, Folk resurgence in literature, Angie Thomas on Hip Hop
Max Porter discusses his new novel Lanny.
Siri Hustvedt, Witches in Fiction, British Library's Erotica Collection
Siri Hustvedt discusses her new novel Memories of the Future
Taylor Jenkins Reid, Older Characters in Fiction, Baseball books
Taylor Jenkins Reid talks about her latest novel Daisy Jones & The Six.
Damian Barr, Candice Carty-Williams, Beckett's prose
Debut novelists Damian Barr and Candice Carty-Williams join presenter Shahidha Bari.
Ali Smith, Easter eggs in fiction, Cate Blanchett's Books to Live By
Ali Smith discusses her new novel Spring, the third instalment of her seasonal quartet.
Working Class Writing
Open Book considers the rich heritage and bright future of working class writing.
Bernardine Evaristo, Victorian showmen in fiction, Graeme Simsion, Faber at 90
Bernardine Evaristo discusses her polyphonic new novel Girl, Woman, Other
Ben Smith and Julia Blackburn on Doggerland; Ghana's literary scene; Rosie Price
Writers Ben Smith and Julia Blackburn discuss their books about Doggerland.