Howard Jacobson

Howard Jacobson, Booker Prize–winning British novelist and critic, reflects on rage, friendship-loss, and safety after October 7. He discusses why he turned to comic fiction for a serious subject. Short, sharp conversations cover satire, public protests, personal fears in London and Manchester, and the challenge of truth and knowledge in debates about Zionism.

Howard Jacobson, Booker Prize–winning novelist known for comic and literary fiction, discusses his new novel Howl. He explains why a novel can do what journalism cannot. He explores using dark comedy amid rage, a furious narrator confronting moral panic, shifting attitudes toward Israel, and Shakespearean tragic textures.

Howard Jacobson, Booker Prize-winning novelist, discusses his new novel Howl and its moral and comedic framing. Thea Gilmore, veteran singer-songwriter, presents The Echo Line project turning anonymous messages into songs and performs 'Sylvie'. They explore grief, Jewish identity, comedy amid outrage, and the ethics of transforming private voices into public music.

George the Poet, a Peabody Award-winning spoken word artist, and Howard Jacobson, a Booker Prize-winning novelist, dive into a spirited debate about the cultural resonance of hip-hop versus Shakespeare. They explore how hip-hop conveys societal narratives rooted in struggles, while Shakespeare's timeless themes reflect human complexities. The conversation highlights the importance of both art forms in understanding identity and moral dilemmas. Through their insights, they illustrate how diverse cultural expressions can coexist and enrich our perspectives.

In a lively debate, Booker Prize-winning novelist Howard Jacobson and writer Anne Atkins champion the Old Testament, rich with iconic tales like Adam and Eve and Moses. Anglican priest Richard Coles makes the case for the New Testament, emphasizing the life of Jesus and its moral teachings. The discussion touches on the enduring impact of these texts on literature and culture, the intricate relationship between the two testaments, and personal journeys of faith, all offering a thought-provoking exploration of spirituality and belief.