Bookclub

BBC Radio 4
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Led by James Naughtie, a group of readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best-known novels

  1. DEC 16

    Emma Thompson: Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility

    The award-winning actress Emma Thompson takes questions on Sense and Sensibility in this special episode of Bookclub to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth. Sense and Sensibility was Jane Austen's first novel published in 1811 when she was thirty-five years old. The book follows the Dashwood sisters as they navigate their way through love and and threat of its loss. Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment. Emma Thompson won an Oscar for her screen adaptation of the 1995 film, of the same name, in which she played Elinor Dashwood. The film also starred Kate Winslet as Marianne Dashwood, Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars, Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon, and Greg Wise as John Willoughby. This episode was recorded at Broadcasting House, London, in August. Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    37 min

  2. NOV 2

    Hallie Rubenhold

    Presented by James Naughtie, the writer and historian Hallie Rubenhold takes questions from a Bookclub audience on her prize-winning book The Five: The Untold Lives Of The Women Killed by Jack The Ripper. The book shines a light on Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Kate Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly who were all murdered in Whitechapel, London, in 1888. The Five won the Ballie-Gifford Prize for non-fiction in 2019. This episode was recorded at The Queen's Reading Room Festival at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    28 min

  3. OCT 5

    John Niven

    Led by presenter, James Naughtie, the writer John Niven speaks to Radio 4's Bookclub programme about his 2008 novel, Kill Your Friends, which is a darkly comic satire of the UK music industry, as told through the perspective of the sadistic, Steven Stelfox, an A&R executive (Artists and Repertoire) for a London record label. The year is 1997, the height of the Britpop era, and Stelfox has his eyes on promotion. This recording takes place in the BBC Scotland studios in Glasgow, Pacific Quay. Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan It was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    29 min

  4. SEP 7

    Paula Hawkins

    Presented by James Naughtie, Radio 4's Bookclub, speaks to the writer Paula Hawkins about her debut thriller The Girl On The Train. The book was published by Doubleday in 2015 to great acclaim and has sold millions of copies. Told in the first-person the novel's protagonist is Rachel Watson, a 33-year-old divorcee with addiction issues. The book was made into film in 2016 directed by Tate Taylor and starring Emily Blunt as Rachel. This episode was recorded at the Edinburgh International Books Festival. Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    29 min

  5. AUG 3

    Kit de Waal

    Presented by James Naughtie, BBC Radio 4's Bookclub, speaks to the award-winning writer Kit de Waal about her heart-rending debut novel, My Name Is Leon. Published in 2016 by Penguin it's the story of two brothers separated after one is adopted. The book, now taught on the curriculum in English schools, takes us back to 1980s Birmingham, and while brothers Leon and Jake share the same mother, Carol, their futures look very different. Jake is adopted, while Leon remains in foster care. The story follows Leon over the course of one difficult year in his life, and when he's given a bike it opens up his horizons. He often goes to the local allotments, where he meets the characters of Mr Devlin and Tufty, and sees a different slice of life. This recording takes place at the Rare Birds Bookshop in Edinburgh. Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    29 min

  6. JUL 6

    Tom Holland

    Presented by James Naughtie, Bookclub speaks to the award-winning writer, historian, and podcaster, Tom Holland, about his book Rubicon, which looks at the triumph and tragedy of the Roman Republic. Originally published in 2003, the book won the PEN Hessell-Tiltman prize for non-fiction, and it unravels the myths and realities of ancient Rome as it charts the final decades of the Republic, placing us back in a pre-Christian era, and setting in context the convulsion that began in January of 49 BC when Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon river in northern Italy en route to Rome and civil war, all in search of power. The episode was recorded at the Topping Bookshop in Edinburgh. Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    29 min

  7. JUN 1

    Joanne Harris: Chocolat

    Led by presenter James Naughtie, the writer Joanne Harris takes questions from a BBC Bookclub audience on her best-selling novel, Chocolat. Published in 1999, the book follows the character of Vianne Rocher, a chocolate-maker and sometime witch, who arrives in the village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes with her six-year-old daughter Anouk at the beginning of Lent and opens a chocolaterie opposite the church. Francis Reynaud, the local priest, disapproves of her instantly and Vianne's arrival polarizes the villagers. The book sold over a million copies in the UK and won the Creative Freedom and Whitaker Gold awards. It was later turned into an Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. Producer: Dom Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    29 min

  8. MAY 4

    Natalie Haynes

    Led by presenter James Naughtie, a BBC Bookclub audience in Glasgow speaks to the author Natalie Haynes about her 2019 novel - A Thousand Ships - which retells the ancient Greek myths from a woman's perspective. Penelope, Clytemnestra, Andromache and Cassandra among others, all make appearances, but their stories are given a new voice and a fresh emphasis. This is the Trojan war and its impact as never seen before. The book was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2020. Producer: Dom Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    29 min
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About

Led by James Naughtie, a group of readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best-known novels

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2025
  • Episodes
    344
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    Bookclub

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