Bookclub

William Trevor discusses his short story collection After Rain

17 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A treat from the Bookclub archive celebrating our 20th anniversary

Jo Nesbo talks about his book, The Snowman

06 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jo Nesbo talks to James Naughtie about his book, The Snowman.

Thomas Keneally discusses his Booker Prize-winning novel Schindler's Ark

17 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A treat from the Bookclub archive to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

Sarah Perry discusses her novel, The Essex Serpent

01 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Perry speaks to James Naughtie about her novel, The Essex Serpent.

Muriel Spark discusses the Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

15 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A treat from the Bookclub archive to celebrate our 20th anniversary

Patrick Gale - A Place Called Winter

04 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick Gale discusses his novel, A Place Called Winter, set at the beginning of the 20th century. The life of Patrick's own great-grandfather Harry C...

Douglas Adams discusses The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

14 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A treat from the Bookclub archive to celebrate our 20th anniversary

Eimear McBride talks about her debut novel, A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing

04 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Eimear McBride discusses her book, A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing.

Colin Thubron - In Siberia

07 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and a group of readers talk to the renowned travel writer and novelist Colin Thubron about his account of travelling through Russia in ...

Clive James

31 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to Clive James about the first volume of his autobiography, Unreliable Memoirs, which has sold over a million copies.C...

Jennifer Egan discusses her Pulitzer Prize winning novel, A Visit from The Goon Squad.

03 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In an extended version, Jennifer Egan talks about A Visit from The Goon Squad.

Edward St Aubyn - Mother's Milk

05 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and a group of readers talk to author Edward St Aubyn, who is best known for his five autobiographical Patrick Melrose novels, which di...

Peter Hoeg - Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow

01 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Høeg's internationally bestselling Miss Smilla's Feeling For Snow was the original Scandi-crime thriller. First published in 1992 the novel's r...

Patrick McCabe discusses his novel The Butcher Boy

03 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick McCabe speaks to James Naughtie about his novel, The Butcher Boy

Anne Patchett talks to James Naughtie about her novel, Bel Canto.

06 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Anne Patchett on her award winning novel, Bel Canto.

James Naughtie talks to Deborah Levy

02 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Deborah Levy talks about her novel, Swimming Home.

Michael Chabon - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay

07 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Chabon talks about The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay with James Naughtie and a group of readers. The novel follows the story of th...

Sunjeev Sahota - The Year of the Runaways

02 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Sunjeev Sahota discusses his novel The Year of the Runaways which was shortlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize. The Year of the Runaways follows the ...

Jonathan Safran Foer - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

05 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Safran Foer talks about his acclaimed novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Set in the aftermath of 9/11, it is the story of a young boy...

Kamila Shamsie on Burnt Shadows

07 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and audience talk to Kamila Shamsie about her novel Burnt Shadows

Barbara Trapido - The Travelling Hornplayer

05 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Novelist Barbara Trapido has been delighting readers over a forty year career. In The Travelling Hornplayer (1998) she spins a tale of betrayal, misun...

John Lanchester - Capital

01 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

John Lanchester talks to James Naughtie and a group of readers about his novel Capital, which was a major BBC TV drama in 2015.The residents of an aff...

Jay McInerney - Bright Lights, Big City

29 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

American writer Jay McInerney discusses his debut novel Bright Lights, Big City with James Naughtie and a group of readers.Bright Lights, Big City not...

Bookclub - Helen Macdonald on H is for Hawk

02 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie discusses H is for Hawk with Helen Macdonald

Bookclub - Don DeLillo on Underworld

04 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie talks to Don DeLillo about his novel Underworld

Bookclub - Evie Wyld on After the Fire a Still, Small Voice

07 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie talks to Evie Wyld about After the Fire a Still, Small Voice

Bookclub - Maggie O'Farrell on The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

03 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie talks to Maggie O'Farrell about The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

Bookclub - Tony Harrison's poem 'v'

05 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and Tony Harrison discuss the poem 'v'

Bookclub with Javier Marias

01 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie talks to Javier Marias about The Infatuations

Bookclub with Elizabeth Strout - Olive Kitteridge

03 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and audience talk to Elizabeth Strout about Olive Kitteridge

Bookclub with Michael Holroyd - A Strange Eventful History

06 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and audience talk to Michael Holroyd about A Strange Eventful History

Bookclub with Kamila Shamsie on Burnt Shadows

08 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and audience talk to Kamila Shamsie about Burnt Shadows

Bookclub with Richard Flanagan - The Narrow Road to the Deep North

03 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie talks to Richard Flanagan about The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Bookclub with Colum McCann - TransAtlantic

06 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie talks to Colum McCann about TransAtlantic.

Bookclub with China Mieville - The City and the City

01 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie talks to China Mieville about The City and the City

Tessa Hadley on Married Love

04 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie talks to Tessa Hadley about Married Love

David Nicholls - One Day

07 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

David Nicholls talks to James Naughtie and a group of readers about his novel One Day

David Nicholls - One Day

06 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

David Nicholls talks to James Naughtie and a group of readers about his enormously successful novel One Day.The book has now sold over 5 million copie...

Bookclub with A M Homes - May We Be Forgiven

02 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A M Homes talks to James Naughtie about her book May We Be Forgiven

Bookclub with Jon McGregor - If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things

06 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Jon McGregor discusses his novel If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things

Henry Marsh - Do No Harm

07 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie.Doctors work under the oath 'do no harm', but the neurosurgeon Henry Marsh says the decision whether to operate on a brain is rare...

Hisham Matar - In the Country of Men

03 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to Hisham Matar about his gripping debut novel In The Country Of Men.This international bestseller is set in Colonel G...

Adam Foulds - The Quickening Maze

05 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Adam Foulds discusses his Man Booker shortlisted novel The Quickening Maze with James Naughtie and a group of readers.Set in the 1840s, The Quickening...

Wilbur Smith - When the Lion Feeds

01 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Wilbur Smith discusses his novel When the Lion Feeds with James Naughtie and a group of readers.

Judith Kerr - When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

01 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie.Judith Kerr discusses her novel When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. First published in 1971, she wrote it for her son in order to expla...

Marina Lewycka - A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian

04 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie's first guest on Bookclub for 2015 is Marina Lewycka.Marina was born in Kiel, Germany, after the war, and moved to England with her fam...

Patrick O'Brian - Master and Commander

07 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie. In a special 200th edition of the programme we celebrate the centenary of author Patrick O'Brian and Allan Mallinson is our guide...

Blake Morrison - And When Did You Last See Your Father?

02 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie. Poet Blake Morrison talks about his memoir of growing up in Yorkshire in the fifties and sixties, the son of two local GPs. It's ...

Tim Winton - Dirt Music

05 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie. Celebrated Australian writer Tim Winton discusses his novel Dirt Music with a group of readers.Tim reveals how after seven years ...

Allan Massie - A Question of Loyalties

07 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie. Recorded at the BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals, Allan Massie discusses his novel A Question of Loyalties. First published in 1989...

Sadie Jones - The Outcast

03 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie. Sadie Jones talks about her novel The Outcast which won the Costa First Novel award in 2008.The book is about a boy called Lewis ...

Lorrie Moore - Who Will Run the Frog Hospital?

06 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie. The celebrated American writer Lorrie Moore discusses her short novel Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? In the early nineties, Lorr...

Emma Donoghue - Room

01 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie. Emma Donoghue discusses her novel Room with an invited group of readers.Donoghue, an Irish writer living in Canada, tells the sto...

Christos Tsiolkas - The Slap

06 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie.Australian novelist Christos Tsiolkas responds to readers' questions about his award-winning debut The Slap. The book generated c...

John Banville - The Sea

06 Apr 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie. Celebrated Irish writer John Banville discusses his novel The Sea which won the Man Booker prize in 2005.In The Sea, middle-aged ...

Disobedience - Naomi Alderman

02 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie.Naomi Alderman, listed as one of Granta's Best Young Novelists 2013, responds to readers' questions about her first novel Disobedi...

Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner

02 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie.Khaled Hosseini talks about his global bestselling novel, The Kite Runner with a group of invited readers.The book describes how t...

Donna Tartt - The Secret History

05 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie.Donna Tartt discusses her cult debut novel The Secret History, first published in 1992."I suppose at one time in my life I might h...

Lee Child - Killing Floor

01 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie.Lee Child discusses the first in his hugely successful Jack Reacher series, Killing Floor, and published in 1997. He's now gone on...

Matthew Hollis - Now All Roads Lead to France

03 Nov 2013

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie.Matthew Hollis discusses his Costa winning biography of the poet Edward Thomas, Now All Roads Lead to France.The book is an accoun...

Paul Theroux - Dark Star Safari

01 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

With James Naughtie. The celebrated travel writer Paul Theroux discusses Dark Star Safari. The book is his account of an overland journey from Cairo...

Deborah Moggach - Tulip Fever

04 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Deborah Moggach talks about her bestselling novel Tulip Fever, a story of love, greed and betrayal in 17th Century Amsterdam.Artist Jan van Loos falls...

Audrey Niffenegger - The Time Traveler's Wife

08 Jul 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Audrey Niffenegger discusses her bestselling novel The Time Traveler's Wife with James Naughtie.It's a romantic story about a man - Henry - with a gen...

Jim Crace - Quarantine

02 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Jim Crace talks about his novel Quarantine. The novel is a re-working of the biblical account of Jesus' forty days spent in the wilderness; and, he sa...

Poet Gillian Clarke - Ice

05 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke discusses her collection Ice which was shortlisted for last year's TS Eliot prize.Inspired by the snowy wint...

Elif Shafak - The Forty Rules of Love

07 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Turkey's leading female novelist Elif Shafak discusses her novel The Forty Rules of Love.The novel is about finding love and is written in two strands...

Andrew Miller on his Costa award-winning novel Pure

03 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew Miller discusses his novel Pure, winner of the 2011 Costa Prize. Set in pre-revolutionary Paris, the book is a gripping, earthy story about the...

George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia

03 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

John Simpson, the BBC's World Affairs Editor and writer Hilary Spurling discuss George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia, as part of the Radio 4 Real Orwel...

Ben Macintyre - Agent Zigzag

06 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Ben Macintyre discusses Agent Zigzag - his bestselling book on the true story of a professional criminal named Eddie Chapman, a successful British dou...

Sathnam Sanghera - The Boy with the Topknot

02 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Sathnam Sanghera discusses his memoir The Boy With The Topknot, which won the 2009 Mind Book of the Year.Born to Punjabi parents in the West Midlands,...

David Almond - Skellig

04 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

David Almond talks about his prize winning novel, Skellig, which is loved by children and adults alike.Skellig is the story of what happens when a New...

Marilynne Robinson - Gilead

07 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

American writer Marilynne Robinson talks to James Naughtie and readers about her novel Gilead, winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize.Marilynne Robinson en...

Victoria Hislop - The Island

02 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Victoria Hislop talks to James Naughtie and readers about her debut novel The Island, a fictional account of a real life leper colony, the island of S...

Michael Ondaatje - The English Patient

05 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Canadian writer Michael Ondaatje talks to James Naughtie and readers about his 1992 Booker prize-winning novel The English Patient.The novel tells the...

David Baddiel talks about Elizabeth Taylor's Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont

01 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate the centenary of novelist Elizabeth Taylor, David Baddiel is our guide to her best known book, Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont. Like many wr...

Philippa Gregory: The Other Boleyn Girl

03 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Philippa Gregory, queen of historical fiction, talks about her best-selling tale of lust, jealousy and betrayal, The Other Boleyn Girl. James Naughtie...

Ross Raisin - God's Own Country

06 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Ross Raisin is a young writer who won much praise for his debut novel God's Own Country in 2008. He discusses the book with James Naughtie and a group...

Anne Enright - The Gathering

01 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Anne Enright talks to James Naughtie and readers about her 2007 Man Booker prize-winning novel The Gathering.The book was the surprise win of that yea...

Alan Hollinghurst - The Line of Beauty

05 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Alan Hollinghurst talks to James Naughtie and readers about his 2004 Man Booker prize-winning novel The Line of Beauty.Framed by the general elections...

Art Spiegelman - Maus

05 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to the American writer and artist Art Spiegelman about his graphic novel Maus.First published in short frames in his e...

Hunter Davies on The Beatles

01 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Hunter Davies talks to James Naughtie and readers about his biography of The Beatles, first published in 1968. Recorded at the Cavern, Liverpool.In 19...

Sebastian Barry: The Secret Scripture

04 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

December's Bookclub author is Sebastian Barry. Well known as a successful dramatist and novelist, his literary career became stellar when he won the 2...

Iain Banks: The Wasp Factory

06 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Iain Banks meets James Naughtie and readers at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh to talk about his debut novel The Wasp Factory, first pub...

Arundhati Roy - The God of Small Things

02 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Arundhati Roy talks to James Naughtie and readers about her Booker prize winning novel The God of Small Things.It's Arundhati Roy's first and so far o...

Mohsin Hamid - The Reluctant Fundamentalist

04 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Mohsin Hamid talks to James Naughtie and readers about his bestselling book The Reluctant Fundamentalist. This edition of Bookclub will be broadcast j...

Donna Leon - Death at La Fenice

07 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Donna Leon talks to James Naughtie and a group of readers about the first in her hugely successful crime series set in Venice, Death At La Fenice.The ...

William Fiennes - The Music Room

03 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to William Fiennes about his memoir The Music Room.The book is his account of growing up in a castle with an epileptic...

Nicole Krauss - The History of Love

05 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to American writer Nicole Krauss, shortlisted for this year's Orange Prize.Our chosen novel is her critically acclaime...

Andrew O'Hagan - Be Near Me

01 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew O'Hagan is a rising star in the literary world. He joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss his novel Be Near Me, the story of Father David,...

Jennifer Johnston

03 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Recorded at the Verbal Arts Centre in Londonderry/City of Derry, James Naughtie and readers talk to one of Ireland's finest writers - Jennifer Johnsto...

Benjamin Zephaniah

04 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to Benjamin Zephaniah, the poet and novelist who's equally popular with both adults and children. Our chosen novel is ...

Tim Butcher

03 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and a group of readers talk to journalist Tim Butcher about his bestselling travel book Blood River. When Tim Butcher was appointed the...

Howard Jacobson

05 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to this year's Man Booker prize winner - Howard Jacobson. The chosen book for this edition of Bookclub is the one he s...

Sarah Hall - The Carhullan Army

05 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to Sarah Hall about her novel The Carhullan Army, recorded at the Chapter and Verse Literature Festival in Liverpool.S...

Claire Tomalin (on Thomas Hardy)

07 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to award winning biographer Claire Tomalin about her life of Thomas Hardy - The Time-Torn Man.Claire Tomalin is celebr...

Roddy Doyle

01 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to the Irish writer Roddy Doyle about his Booker prize winning novel Paddy Clarke HA HA HA. In the novel ten year old...

Yann Martel

05 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to the Canadian writer Yann Martel about his novel Life of Pi, which won the 2002 Man Booker prize and went on to be a...

Siri Hustvedt

01 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to American writer Siri Hustvedt about her novel What I Loved.Siri Hustvedt's novel is part love story, thriller, and ...

Henning Mankell

04 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to the Swedish thriller writer Henning Mankell about his novel Sidetracked, featuring his detective Kurt Wallander. He...

Lynne Reid Banks

06 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

James Naughtie and readers talk to the celebrated author Lynne Reid Banks about her first novel, The L-Shaped Room. It was an instant success and has...