Take Four Books
Episodes
Yann Martel
29 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The much-loved Canadian writer and former Booker Prize winner, Yann Martel, speaks to Take Four Books this week about his new novel, and first for a d...
Jan Carson
22 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Northern Irish writer and multi‑award‑winning novelist Jan Carson talks to James Crawford about her new book and the three key influences that sha...
Susan Choi
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The writer Susan Choi speaks to Take Four Books about her novel Flashlight, and, together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connections ...
Colm Tóibín
08 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Irish writer Colm Tóibín speaks to Take Four Books about his new short story collection, The News From Dublin, and together with presenter James...
John Lanchester
22 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author John Lanchester speaks to Take Four Books about his latest novel Look What You Made Me Do. Together with presenter James Crawford, ...
Jennifer Niven
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
American author Jennifer Niven joins Take Four Books to discuss 'Meet the Newmans', her brand new novel that follows the lives of America’s favourit...
Bryan Washington
08 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The American writer Bryan Washington speaks to Take Four Books about his new novel, Palaver, and, together with presenter James Crawford, they explore...
Ali Smith
25 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Acclaimed author Ali Smith speaks to Take Four Books about her latest book, Glyph. Together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connection...
Rob Doyle
18 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Irish writer Rob Doyle speaks to Take Four Books about his new novel Cameo, and, together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connecti...
Makenna Goodman
11 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode the American writer Makenna Goodman speaks to Take Four Books about her new novel, Helen Of Nowhere, and together with presenter James...
Andrew Michael Hurley
28 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Author Andrew Michael Hurley discusses his latest novel, Saltwash, a haunting tale of two terminally ill men whose paths cross in a run-down seaside t...
Salman Rushdie
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sir Salman Rushdie speaks to Take Four Books about his new collection of short fiction and together with presenter James Crawford they explore its con...
Jo Nesbø
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter James Crawford speaks to bestselling crime writer and Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbø about his book, Wolf Hour - a standalone thriller set in ...
Alexander McCall Smith
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
International bestseller Sir Alexander McCall Smith joines James Crawford to discuss The Private Side of Friendship, and shares the literary works tha...
Karl Ove Knausgaard
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Karl Ove Knausgaard speaks to Take Four Books about his new novel The School Of Night and together with presenter James Crawford they explore its conn...
Olga Ravn
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning Danish author Olga Ravn speaks to Take Four Books about her new novel The Wax Child and together with presenter James Crawford they expl...
Katherine Rundell
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning author Katherine Rundell discusses The Poisoned King, the second instalment in her acclaimed children’s fantasy series, Impossible Cre...
Chris Kraus
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter James Crawford welcomes American writer, filmmaker, and art critic Chris Kraus to Take Four Books to discuss her latest novel 'The Four Spen...
Philippa Gregory
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrated historical novelist Phillipa Gregory speaks to James Crawford about her latest novel Boleyn Traitor and explores its connections to three o...
John Banville
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Booker Prize winning Irish author John Banville speaks about his new novel Venetian Vespers and together with presenter James Crawford they explore it...
William Boyd
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Booker shortlisted writer William Boyd speaks to Take Four Books this week about his new spy novel, The Predicament, and together with presenter James...
Graham Norton
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
BAFTA Award-winning broadcaster and novelist Graham Norton discusses Frankie, his fifth novel, which centres on the life of an apparently unremarkable...
Ian McEwan
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Booker prize winning author, Ian McEwan, speaks to Take Four Books, about his new novel, What We Can Know, and explores its connections to three other...
Melissa Lucashenko
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Goorie author Melissa Lucashenko joins Take Four Books from the Edinburgh International Book Festival to discuss her novel, Edenglassie.The three book...
Sarah Hall
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Presented by James Crawford, Take Four Books, speaks to the writer Sarah Hall about her new novel, Helm, and explores its connections to three other l...
Rachel Kushner
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Presented by James Crawford, Take Four Books, speaks to the Booker-shortlisted American writer, Rachel Kushner, about her novel, Creation Lake, now ou...
Irvine Welsh
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, this week speaks to the writer Irvine Welsh about his new novel Men In Love - the direct sequel to Trai...
Denise Mina
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Multi-award-winning writer Denise Mina discusses her twentieth novel, The Good Liar, which follows blood-spatter forensics expert Claudia O’Sheil as...
Gurnaik Johal
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Take Four Books speaks to writer Gurnaik Johal about his debut novel ‘Saraswati’, a tale about a holy river that appears to resurface in modern-da...
Colm Tóibín
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Presented by James Crawford, Take Four Books, speaks to the Irish writer Colm Tóibín about his latest novel - Long Island - and explores its connect...
Madeleine Thien
29 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Presented by James Crawford, Take Four Books, speaks to the writer Madeleine Thien about her new novel and explores its links to three other literary ...
Wendy Erskine
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Presented by James Crawford, Take Four Books, speaks to the award-winning short story writer Wendy Erskine about her first novel - The Benefactors - a...
Elif Shafak
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, speaks this week to the award-winning writer, Elif Shafak, about her new novel - There Are Rivers In The...
Andrew Miller
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, speaks to the writer Andrew Miller about his novel, The Land In Winter, and explores its connections to ...
Seán Hewitt
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Take Four Books presents Open, Heaven, the debut novel from Seán Hewitt - an award-winning poet renowned for his critically acclaimed 2022 memoir of ...
Ocean Vuong
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Take Four Books James Crawford is joined by the multi-award winning Vietnamese-American poet and author, Ocean Vuong. Together w...
Ben Okri
11 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Booker-prize winning writer and poet Ben Okri talks to Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, about his new novella - Madame Sosostris & th...
Vincenzo Latronico
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, speaks to the writer Vincenzo Latronico on his new novel Perfection - which has been shortlisted for the...
Xiaolu Guo
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks to the British-Chinese writer Xiaolu Guo about her new novel - Call Me Ishmaelle - whic...
Andrew O'Hagan
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Three-times Booker nominated Scottish author Andrew O’Hagan tells us about his novel, Caledonian Road, and reveals three other works that inspired i...
Eoin McNamee
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, the Northern Irish writer Eoin McNamee talks about how he fictionalised elements of his own...
David Szalay
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Booker-shortlisted writer David Szalay talks to presenter James Crawford on Take Four Books this week about his new novel, Flesh, and the three other ...
Eimear McBride
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks this week to the Irish writer Eimear McBride about her new novel - The City Changes Its Face - and...
Tash Aw
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter James Crawford speaks to twice-Booker-nominated Chinese-Malaysian author Tash Aw about his latest novel, The South, and the three works that...
Laurent Binet
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter James Crawford speaks with multi-award-winning, Booker-longlisted French author Laurent Binet about his latest novel, Perspectives, and the ...
Susan Barker
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter James Crawford speaks to the writer Susan Barker on Take Four Books this week about her new novel, Old Soul, and the three other works that ...
Emma Healey
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks to best-selling author Emma Healey about her new book – Sweat – and the three books ...
Michelle de Kretser
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks to the award-winning Australian writer Michelle de Kretser about her new novel - Theory ...
Paul Theroux
19 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The award-winning travel writer and novelist Paul Theroux talks to Take Four Books about his latest short story collection - The Vanishing Point - and...
Jonathan Coe
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, speaks to the award-winning writer Jonathan Coe about his new novel - The Proof Of My Innocenc...
Rachelle Atalla
29 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter James Crawford speaks to the writer Rachelle Atalla about her new novel, The Salt Flats, and explores its connections to three other literar...
Nick Harkaway
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, speaks the writer and son John Le Carré - Nick Harkaway - about his new book Karla's Choice and its con...
AL Kennedy
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, speaks to award-winning writer A. L. Kennedy about her new book, Alive In The Merciful Country, and its ...
Tessa Hadley
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter James Crawford takes a deep dive into the latest work by critically-acclaimed writer Tessa Hadley and learns more about her creative process...
Graeme Macrae Burnet
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter James Crawford talks to Booker Prize-shortlisted writer Graeme Macrae Burnet about his new book, A Case of Matricide, the concluding part of...