Meet the Writers
530 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 17 ratingsWant to know more about the authors behind your favourite books? Tune in to discover the methods of – and inspiration behind – some of the world’s most exciting writers. Every Saturday, Georgina Godwin hosts an in-depth discussion with the person behind the prose.
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Episodes
Margaret Coker
March 07, 2021 12:00 - 41.2 MBIn Margaret Coker’s time as a foreign correspondent for ‘The Wall Street Journal’ and ‘The New York Times’, she reported from over 30 countries on four continents, spending extended time in Russia, the Middle East and Turkey, where her reporting was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Now back home in Georgia, she is editor in chief of investigative website ‘The Current’. Her latest book is ‘The Spymaster of Baghdad: The Untold Story of the Elite Intelligence Cell that Turned the Tide against ISIS’.
Monocle Reads: Margaret Reynolds
March 04, 2021 12:40 - 24.3 MBMargaret Reynolds is a writer, critic, broadcaster, and professor of English at Queen Mary University of London. Away from academia she presents BBC Radio 4’s ‘Adventures in Poetry’ and has written for a number of national newspapers. Her previous books include ‘The Penguin Book of Lesbian Short Stories’, ‘The Sappho Companion’ and ‘Victorian Women Poets: An Anthology’. She speaks to Georgina Godwin about her latest book ‘The Wild Track: Adopting, Mothering, Belonging’, a part-memoir and exam...
Afonso Cruz
February 28, 2021 12:00 - 41.2 MBAfonso Cruz has written more than 30 books, plays, young-adult novellas, essays and novels, including ‘Kokoschka’s Doll’, which won the EU Prize for Literature. His subsequent books have also found success: ‘Jesus Christ Drank Beer’ was Time Out Lisbon’s best Portuguese novel of the year; ‘Where do Umbrellas End Up’ won the 2014 Portuguese Society for Authors award. Cruz is also a columnist, illustrator, animated-film director and member of the band The Soaked Lamb.
Monocle Reads: Bonnie Kemske
February 25, 2021 12:35 - 21 MBBonnie Kemske is an artist, writer and former editor of ‘Ceramic Review’. Born in Okinawa but raised in the US, she studied the Zen Buddhist artform of Chanoyu in Japan before undertaking a PhD at the Royal College of Art, becoming a ceramicist and researcher. She speaks to Georgina Godwin about her latest book, ‘Kintsugi: The Poetic Mend’, which explores the unique tradition of repairing pottery with a visible, often gold-leaf-covered join.
Richard Fidler
February 21, 2021 12:00 - 41.2 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to celebrated Australian writer and broadcaster Richard Fidler, best known for presenting ‘Conversations’ on ABC Radio, which is one of the most popular podcasts in the country. Having also forged a successful writing career, Fiddler’s latest book, ‘The Golden Maze’, is about the fascinating history of Prague.
Monocle Reads: Caleb Azumah Nelson
February 18, 2021 12:06 - 19.8 MBCaleb Azumah Nelson is a writer and photographer from southeast London. He has been published in literary magazines such as ‘Litro’ and ‘Granta’, and was named by ‘The Observer’ as one of the 10 best debut novelists of the year. He was also shortlisted for the 2020 BBC National Short Story Prize. He speaks to Georgina Godwin about his eagerly anticipated debut ‘Open Water’.
Florence de Changy
February 14, 2021 12:00 - 41.2 MBFlorence de Changy’s recently released book ‘The Disappearing Act’ charts the disappearance of flight MH370, which took off from Kuala Lumpur heading for Beijing on 8 March, 2014, and was never, apparently, seen again. The French journalist spent seven years investigating this story and compiling a wealth of evidence to support her theory of what actually happened that day.
Monocle Reads: Eliot Higgins
February 11, 2021 12:13 - 33.4 MBEliot Higgins is the founder of investigative journalism website Bellingcat. Founded in 2014, Bellingcat has revealed crucial details in stories including the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, chemical weapons in Syria and the Skripal poisonings. He speaks to Georgina Godwin about his new book ‘We are Bellingcat: An Intelligence Agency for the People’.
Francis Spufford
February 07, 2021 12:00 - 41.2 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to Francis Spufford, a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and professor at Goldsmiths University. At the beginning of his career, he specialised in non-fiction, writing five highly acclaimed books that saw him long- and shortlisted for prizes in scientific, historical, political and theological writing. He then made the shift towards fiction in 2010, with the highly acclaimed ‘Golden Hill’. Over the course of his writing career, he has won the Costa First Novel A...
Monocle Reads: Lipika Pelham
February 04, 2021 12:31 - 18 MBLipika Pelham is a British-Bengali journalist and author, who worked for a number of years for the BBC World Service in London before moving to Jerusalem. Continuing her work for BBC radio there, she also made the award-winning documentary ‘Deadly Honour’. She speaks to Georgina Godwin about her latest book ‘Passing: An Alternative History of Identity’.
Huck and Richard Scarry
January 31, 2021 12:00 - 41.2 MBThe late Richard Scarry was one of the world’s most prolific children’s authors and illustrators. He published more than 300 books, selling more than 100 million copies across various languages. Georgina Godwin speaks to his son, Huck, who is also an author and illustrator, about continuing his father’s work.
Monocle Reads: Nicholas Fox Weber
January 28, 2021 12:30 - 18.2 MBNicholas Fox Weber is a cultural historian and executive director of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. He is the author of several books about the Bauhaus and Le Corbusier. He speaks to Georgina Godwin about his latest book, ‘Anni and Josef Albers: Equal and Unequal’, which details the life and work of the couple who were among the most important abstract artists of the 20th century.
Alexandra Heminsley
January 24, 2021 12:00 - 41.2 MBWriter and bestselling author Alexandra Heminsley began her career in publishing before moving into journalism in 2004 and going on to become books editor at ‘Elle’. Her latest book, ‘Some Body To Love’ is an honest and thoughtful memoir that touches on difficult contemporary topics.
Monocle Reads: Lyndsey Stonebridge
January 21, 2021 12:45 - 17.3 MBLyndsey Stonebridge is a writer and professor of humanities and human rights at the University of Birmingham. A prolific author, her writing has earned her a number of accolades, including the Modernist Studies Association book prize. She speaks to Georgina Godwin about her latest book, ‘Writing and Righting: Literature in the Age of Human Rights’.
Tim Sainsbury
January 17, 2021 12:00 - 41.2 MBTim Sainsbury was responsible for the development and strategy of Sainsbury’s, one of the UK’s largest supermarkets. Aside from an illustrious initial career in retail, he is perhaps best known for being a Conservative politician. Over a political career that lasted more than 20 years, he had spells as minister of state for trade and minister for industry. An avid art collector in his spare time, his book, ‘Among the Supporting Cast’, details his fascinating and varied life.
Monocle Reads: Cory Doctorow
January 14, 2021 12:22 - 30.1 MBCory Doctorow is a journalist, activist and science fiction author. His output has ranged across short stories, novels and graphic novels, including multiple ‘New York Times’ best sellers. He is also a passionate copyright law and intellectual property activist. He speaks to Georgina Godwin about his latest novel ‘Attack Surface’, a stand-alone title set in the world of his previous books, ‘Little Brother’ and ‘Homeland’.
Chris Atkins and Lottie Moggach
January 10, 2021 12:00 - 41.2 MBChris Atkins was jailed for tax fraud and has written an eye-opening book about the experience, ‘A Bit of a Stretch’. His former partner Lottie Moggach also uses memories of the time to inform her novel ‘Brixton Hill’. Georgina Godwin speaks to them together to find out more about the experience and the resulting books.
Monocle Reads: Mia Levitin
January 07, 2021 12:09 - 25.6 MBMia Levitin is a cultural and literary critic who has written for publications from the ‘Financial Times’ to ‘The Guardian’. She speaks to Georgina Godwin about her book ‘The Future of Seduction’, which details the ever-changing world of sex, dating and relationships in the digital era. The book is one of five essays in the Futures series.
The writers we met in 2020. Part 2: Dustin Lance Black, Isabel Allende, Oyinkan Braithwaite and Robert Reich
January 03, 2021 12:00 - 41.2 MBOn this best of ‘Meet The Writers’, we bring you highlights from conversations with Academy award-winner and LGBT activist Dustin Lance Black, Chilean author Isabel Allende, best-selling Nigerian-UK novelist Oyinkan Braithwaite and US presidential adviser Robert Reich.
The writers we met in 2020. Part 1: The Booker prize
December 27, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBWe revisit our interview with this year’s Booker prize-winner Douglas Stuart, and hear from shortlisted authors Maaza Mengiste, Tsitsi Dangarembga and Brandon Taylor.
Monocle Reads: Nanjala Nyabola
December 17, 2020 12:24 - 21.3 MBNanjala Nyabola is a writer, political analyst and activist. With degrees from both Oxford University and Harvard Law School, she has written across a variety of topics including the internet, politics and travel. She speaks with Georgina Godwin about her latest book ‘Travelling While Black: Essays Inspired by a Life on the Move’.
Peter Cardwell
December 13, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBAs special adviser to a total of four cabinet ministers, Peter Cardwell worked at the highest levels of government, gaining insight into rarely seen aspects of life in Whitehall. His book, ‘The Secret life of Special Advisers’, reveals all, detailing what the roles of people such as Dominic Cummings and Alastair Campbell really involve.
Monocle Reads: Antony Johnston
December 10, 2020 12:25 - 24.9 MBAntony Johnston is a ‘New York Times’ bestselling writer and podcaster whose work spans multiple genres and formats, from books to video games. One of his most notable works, the graphic novel ‘Coldest City’, went on to be adapted into the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Atomic Blonde’ starring Charlize Theron. He speaks to Georgina Godwin about his latest book ‘The Organised Writer’, a no-nonsense guide to better productivity for writers.
Jason Diakite
December 06, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBJason Diakite is best known for his illustrious career as a hip hop artist in Sweden. Performing in the group Excel and then solo as Timbuktu, he has performed all over the world, including at the Nobel Peace prize ceremony. His critically acclaimed memoir ‘A Drop of Midnight’ has sold more than 100,000 copies in Sweden and is an honest and intimate account of his and his family’s history, from slavery in the southern states of the US to modern-day Sweden.
Monocle Reads: Elizabeth Green
December 03, 2020 16:20 - 32.7 MB‘Not in the Script’ is Elizabeth Green’s unconventional and moving memoir about growing up with the feeling that she had been written out of a family story dominated by her entrepreneurial brother, Philip Green of Arcadia. She tells Georgina Godwin about the upbringing that shaped them both in very different ways.
Peter Hain
November 29, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBDespite growing up in apartheid South Africa, Peter Hain is best known for his career spanning three decades as a UK Labour Party MP. He served in the cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and chaired the UN Security Council. His latest book, ‘The Rhino Conspiracy’, is a gripping thriller set in South Africa.
Monocle Reads: Craig Brown
November 26, 2020 12:56 - 29.3 MBCraig Brown’s Beatles biography, ‘One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time’, won the 2020 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. The journalist and author of 18 books been writing his parodic diary in ‘Private Eye’ since 1989 and is the only person to have won three different Press Awards – best humourist, columnist and critic – in the same year. He speaks to Georgina Godwin.
Booker prize winner Douglas Stuart
November 22, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBThe 2020 Booker prize went to ‘Shuggie Bain’ by Douglas Stuart. Only the second Scot to win the prize, he tells Georgina Godwin about growing up with an alcoholic mother in Glasgow, his career in fashion, his move to New York – and now his coronation at the very pinnacle of literature with his debut novel.
Monocle Reads: Helen Jacey
November 19, 2020 12:34 - 27.4 MBHelen Jacey is a professional screenwriter, lecturer, author and founder of Shedunnit Productions, which provides opportunities across media for intersectional feminist work. An expert in female characterisation, her first book ‘The Woman in the Story’ was published in 2010 and has since become the international handbook for screenwriters writing female characters. Jacey is now working on ‘Elvira Slate Investigations’, a 1940s crime noir feminist detective series.
Erika Fatland
November 15, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBOne of Norway’s most exciting new travel writers, Erika Fatland has gained a reputation for telling unique, often overlooked stories. A social anthropologist by training, she has documented terrorism in Beslan and the 2011 terror attacks in her native Norway. In her latest book, ‘The Border: A Journey Around Russia,’ she turns her attention to frontiers, recounting a fascinating trip through each of the 14 countries bordering the world’s largest country.
Monocle Reads: Stuart Clark
November 12, 2020 12:34 - 17.6 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to Stuart Clark, author and one of the leading astronomy journalists in the UK. Clark holds a PhD in astrophysics and his work has been published widely. He tells Georgina about his new book ‘Beneath the Night: How the Stars Have Shaped the History of Humankind’.
Robert Harris
November 08, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBRobert Harris is probably the UK’s best-known thriller writer. A former political editor on broadsheets, his work has explored themes as wide-ranging as contemporary politics, ancient Rome and the Second World War. Many have become bestsellers and been adapted for television and film.
Monocle Reads: Jennifer Dasal
November 05, 2020 12:14 - 21.8 MBJennifer Dasal, curator of modern and contemporary art at the North Carolina Museum of Art, is also host of the successful podcast ‘ArtCurious’. She speaks to Georgina Godwin about her latest book, ‘ArtCurious: Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd and Strangely Wonderful in Art History’.
Michael Portillo
November 01, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to former UK defence secretary and shadow chancellor Michael Portillo. Following his career in politics he moved to the BBC, where he presented the popular documentary series ‘Great British Railway Journeys’, which is the inspiration for his latest book.
Monocle Reads: Peter Ross
October 29, 2020 23:21 - 22.8 MBAuthor and award-winning journalist Peter Ross takes us through the fascinating world of burial grounds in his new book, ‘A Tomb With a View’, which explores graveyards across the UK and the stories of those who lie beneath them.
Bill Granger
October 25, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBBill Granger is credited with inventing avocado toast. He is an Australian restaurateur and food writer, loved by family cooks and sophisticated foodies alike. His sunny, relaxed approach is an essential to his enduring popularity. His books have sold more than a million copies and his latest publication, ‘Australian Food’ is also set to be a bestseller.
Monocle Reads: Lola Shoneyin
October 22, 2020 12:03 - 26.7 MBNow in its eighth year, Ake Festival brings together artists, writers and other creatives to celebrate culture in Africa. Its founder and director, Lola Shoneyin, tells Georgina Godwin about this year’s event and her own writing career, including her successful debut novel ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives’.
Andrew Harding
October 18, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to the award-winning UK journalist and author Andrew Harding. Africa correspondent for BBC News, Harding began his career in Moscow in 1991 and has lived in Tbilisi, Nairobi, Singapore, Bangkok and now Johannesburg. His new book, ‘These Are Not Gentle People’, is a true-crime thriller based in South Africa.
Monocle Reads: Amir Khan
October 15, 2020 12:17 - 21.1 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to NHS doctor and TV personality Amir Khan about his bestselling book, ‘The Doctor Will See You Now’. The memoir draws on Khan’s past 10 years as a GP, including his experience of the current pandemic.
Lauren Child
October 11, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBGeorgina Godwin meets children’s author and illustrator Lauren Child, best known for the ‘Charlie and Lola’ books that have been adapted for a BBC animated series. A previous children’s laureate and Unesco artist for peace, Child’s latest book, ‘The Goody’, explores the importance of kindness and freedom.
Monocle Reads: Sue Armstrong
October 08, 2020 12:01 - 21.2 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to science writer, broadcaster and foreign correspondent Sue Armstrong about her new book, ‘Borrowed Time: The Science of How and Why We Age’, in which she tells the story of science’s quest to understand ageing.
Robert Zoellick
October 04, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to Robert Zoellick, a man whose experience in the US government spans six presidencies. Having served in a number of roles such as deputy secretary, counsellor of the State Department and as US trade representative, his illustrious career also includes stints as deputy chief of staff at the White House and president of the World Bank. Now a senior fellow at Harvard University, his latest book is ‘America in the World: A History of US Diplomacy and Foreign Policy’.
Monocle Reads: Christian Busch
October 01, 2020 23:15 - 22.9 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to Christian Busch about his latest book, ‘The Serendipity Mindset: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck’, which explores how we can all use chance to create more joy and opportunity in our lives.
Max Seeck
September 27, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to the Finnish best-selling author Max Seeck, whose unique and gripping style of crime fiction is earning him plaudits across the world. He discusses the influence of his military past and the inevitable comparisons with Stieg Larsson.
Monocle Reads: Laila Lalami
September 24, 2020 12:32 - 24.7 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to Pulitzer prize-finalist Laila Lalami about her latest book ‘Conditional Citizens’. Using her own journey from Moroccan immigrant to US citizen, Lalami explores notions of belonging in America.
Brandon Taylor
September 20, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBGeorgina Godwin talks to Brandon Taylor, whose debut novel has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2020. The son of illiterate parents from Alabama, Taylor’s powerful ‘Real Life’ is the story of a gay, black biochemistry student. The book crackles with electric prose.
Monocle Reads: Andrew Hankinson
September 17, 2020 12:53 - 21.7 MBAndrew Hankinson, the award-winning author of ‘You Could Do Something Amazing with Your Life: (You Are Raoul Moat)’ speaks to Georgina Godwin about his latest book, ‘Don’t Applaud. Either Laugh or Don’t’, which explores contemporary comedy through the Comedy Cellar, New York.
Rose Tremain
September 13, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBGeorgina Godwin interviews acclaimed novelist Rose Tremain about her relationship with her parents and how that has impacted on her writing, including in her latest book, ‘Islands of Mercy’. Set in 1986, it shifts between the genteel town of Bath and the wild island of Borneo.
Monocle Reads: Maggie O’Farrell
September 10, 2020 12:01 - 22.2 MBGeorgina Godwin speaks to the newly crowned winner of the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction, Maggie O’Farrell. Her winning novel, ‘Hamnet’, was inspired by the life and death of Shakespeare’s only son.
Vanessa Branson
September 06, 2020 12:00 - 41.2 MBVanessa Branson is a champion of numerous cultural and ecological initiatives. A trustee for the charitable Virgin Unite organisation that was started by her brother Richard, she has now written a frank and highly entertaining memoir about her family, called ‘One Hundred Summers’.