Take Four Books

BBC Radio 4
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Take Four Books

Presenter James Crawford looks at an author's latest work and delves further into their creative process by learning about the three other texts that have shaped their writing.

Episodes

  1. FEB 23

    Laurent Binet

    Presenter James Crawford speaks with multi-award-winning, Booker-longlisted French author Laurent Binet about his latest novel, Perspectives, and the three other works that influenced its creation. Set in 16th-century Florence, the novel follows an investigation into the mysterious death of a renowned painter, found lying on a church floor with a fatal stab wound to the heart. Above him, the masterpieces he dedicated over a decade to completing. But who is responsible for his murder? Laurent’s influences were: Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (1782); The Story of my Escape from the Prisons of Venice by Giacomo Casanova (1788); and The Florentine Histories by Niccolo Machiavelli (1532). The supporting contributor was poet, translator and lecturer in Creative Writing at Loughborough University, Dr Kerry Featherstone. Producer: Rachael O’Neill Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production

    29 min

  2. FEB 16

    Susan Barker

    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 have helped to shape its creation. Susan's new book, published by Penguin, is made up of seven testimonies that cross centuries and continents, but they have one thing in common - a beguiling woman, who is much older than she looks, and leaves a trail of death and disappearance in her wake. The books Susan chose for her episode were: Under The Skin by Michel Faber (2000); Ghostwritten by David Mitchell (1999); and Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood (1988). The supporting contributor was the writer and Strathclyde University Creative Writing lecturer, Rodge Glass. During the episode, a short clip of the audiobook version of Under The Skin is played. The publisher is Canongate Books Ltd. Producer: Dom Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production

    28 min

  3. FEB 9

    Emma Healey

    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 that inspired its creation. Emma’s choices were: Dare Me by Megan Abbott (2012); Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss (2018); and The Harpy by Megan Hunter (2020). Producer: Rachael O’Neill Editor: Annie McGuire Take Four Books is a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    29 min

  4. JAN 26

    Michelle de Kretser

    This week Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks to the award-winning Australian writer Michelle de Kretser about her new novel - Theory & Practice - and its three key influences. Michelle's choices were: the diary of Virginia Woolf from 1932; Ali Smith’s The Accidental from 2005; and Shirley Hazzard’s The Transit of Venus, from 1980. Producer: Dom Howell Editor: Annie McGuire Take Four Books is a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    29 min

  5. JAN 19

    Paul Theroux

    The award-winning travel writer and novelist Paul Theroux talks to Take Four Books about his latest short story collection - The Vanishing Point - and explores three other works that have helped to shape his writing. Paul's choices were: A Simple Heart by Gustave Flaubert (1877); Two Brothers by V S Pritchett (1932); and Riders In The Chariot by Patrick White (1961). Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Annie McGuire This was a BBC Audio Scotland production

    28 min

  6. JAN 12

    Jonathan Coe

    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 Innocence - and explores its connections to three other literary works. Jonathan's three influencing texts were: The Pledge by Friedrich Durrenmatt; Good As Gold by Joseph Heller; and Unexplained Laughter by Alice Thomas Ellis. Producer: Dom Howell Editor: Annie McGuire This was a BBC AUDIO SCOTLAND production

    30 min

  7. 12/29/2024

    Rachelle Atalla

    Presenter James Crawford speaks to the writer Rachelle Atalla about her new novel, The Salt Flats, and explores its connections to three other literary works. The books that Rachelle chose were: Women With Men by Richard Ford (1997); Wake In Fright by Kenneth Cook (1961); and Oryx And Crake by Margaret Atwood (2003). Producer: Dom Howell Editor: Annie Maguire This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    28 min

  8. 12/22/2024

    Nick Harkaway

    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 connections to three other literary works. The books Nick Harkaway chose were: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carré (1974); The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng (2011); and The Passion by Jeanette Winterson (1987). Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Annie Maguire This was a BBC AUDIO SCOTLAND PRODUCTION

    29 min

  9. 12/15/2024

    AL Kennedy

    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 connections to three other literary works. The books A. L Kennedy chose were: Moby Dick by Herman Melville (1851); Petersburg by Andrei Bely (1913); and Lord Of The Rings by JRR Tolkien (1954). Producer: Dom Howell Editor: Annie Maguire This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

    30 min

  10. 12/08/2024

    Tessa Hadley

    Presenter James Crawford takes a deep dive into the latest work by critically-acclaimed writer Tessa Hadley and learns more about her creative process by exploring its connections to three other literary works. Tessa's new novella The Party started out life as a short story for the New Yorker magazine but was later expanded. Her three influential choices are: Alice Munro's short story collection Open Secrets; Elizabeth Bowen's The Death Of The Heart and Colm Toibin's Brooklyn.

    30 min

  11. 11/24/2024

    Graeme Macrae Burnet

    Presenter James Crawford talks to Booker Prize-shortlisted writer Graeme Macrae Burnet about his new book, A Case of Matricide, the concluding part of his trilogy of Gorski novels. With the help of crime novelist Louise Welsh, Macrae Burnet explores three other works that have influenced his new book. His choices were: Georges Simenon's The Little Man From Archangel, La Femme de Gilles by Madeleine Bourdouxhe and L’Assommoir by Emile Zola. Presenter: James Crawford Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Annie McGuire A BBC AUDIO SCOTLAND PRODUCTION FOR BBC RADIO FOUR. Presenter: James Crawford Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Annie McGuire A BBC AUDIO SCOTLAND PRODUCTION FOR BBC RADIO FOUR.

    28 min
  • 11 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Presenter James Crawford looks at an author's latest work and delves further into their creative process by learning about the three other texts that have shaped their writing.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    Take Four Books

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