The TLS Podcast

This week, AE Stallings immerses herself in Daniel Mendelsohn's new translation of Homer's Odyssey; and Dinah Birch is intrigued by an ambitious novel twenty years in the making. 'The Odyssey', by Homer, translated by Daniel Mendelsohn 'The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny', by Kiran DesaiProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, James Shapiro celebrates New York's love affair with Shakespeare; Mark Nayler goes on the hunt for monsters; and Lily Herd introduces this issue's In Brief pages. 'Monsterland: A journey around the world’s dark imagination', by Nicholas Jubber'The Perilous Deep: A supernatural history of the Atlantic', by Karl BellProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Professor Jonathan Bate on a tiny Elizabethan portrait with an illuminating history; and novelist Gwendoline Riley assesses the mysterious life and work of Dame Muriel Spark.'Electric Spark: The enigma of Muriel Spark', by Frances Wilson'The Letters of Muriel Spark – Volume 1: 1944–1963', edited by Dan GunnProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the winner of this year's TLS Ackerley Prize, Jeff Young, discusses his spellbinding memoir; and Toby Lichtig talks to the Australian novelist Michelle de Kretser at this year's Hay Festival.'Wild Twin', by Jeff Young'Theory & Practice', by Michelle de KretserProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, George Berridge instructs Lucy and Alex on the noble art of oenophilia; and Lucy takes in a trio of musicals.'Who's Afraid of Romanée-Conti: A shortcut to drinking great wines', by Dan Keeling'One Thousand Vines: A new way to understand wine', by Pascaline Peltier'Good Night, Oscar', by Doug Wright, Barbican, until September 21'Top Hat', by Irving Berlin, Chichester Festival Theatre, until September 6'Brigadoon', by Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe, adapted by Rona Munro, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, until September 20Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Clark celebrates the life and work of Edna O'Brien with filmmaker Sinéad O'Shea and novelists Eimear McBride and Jan Carson at this year's Belfast Book Festival.'Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story', by Sinéad O'SheaProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, a special interview with farmer and writer James Rebanks about a life-changing stay on the Norwegian coast.'The Place of Tides', by James RebanksProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Emile Chabal braces himself against the barrelling force of the Mistral; and Kathryn Hughes is exhilarated by memories of dancing to Dickens in the carpark of the Horsham Odeon.'The Mistral: A Windswept History of Modern France', by Catherine Tatiana Dunlop'Showtime!', at the Charles Dickens Museum, until January 18, 2026Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Norma Clarke explores the ancient arts of hedge-laying, thatching, hay-cutting and wood-turning; and highlights from this week's issue.'Words from the Hedge: A hedgelayer’s view of the countryside', by Richard Negus'Of Thorn and Briar: A year with the West Country hedgelayer', by Paul Lamb 'On the Roof: A thatcher’s journey', by Tom Allan'Where Are the Fellows Who Cut the Hay?: How traditions from the past can shape our future', by Robert Ashton'Ingrained: The making of a craftsman', by Callum RobinsonProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alicia Rix charts Henry James's return to an unrecognisable homeland; and David Horspool on a Victorian conman and a contemporary swimmer.'Henry James Comes Home: Rediscovering America in the Gilded Age', by Peter Brooks'On Writers and Writing: Selected Essays', by Henry James, edited by Michael Gorra'Swimmingly: Adventures in Water', by Vassos AlexanderProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.