Books and Authors

A Henning Mankell thriller, a tragedy from Jonathan Coe and a Graham Greene satire are the choices of entrepreneur Sophi Tranchell, TV critic Alison Graham, and Harriett Gilbert.

Michael Palin talks about his second novel in seventeen years, called The Truth. Novelist Kitty Aldridge and Professor John Mullan discuss the wit and pathos in the depiction of funerals in literature. And as fans gather in Oxford to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Alice Day, we assess the enduring appeal of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the on-going debates surrounding Lewis Carroll's relationship with the young girl.

Favourite paperbacks discussed by historian Helen Castor and sustainability activist Rob Hopkins, in a programme chaired by Harriett Gilbert. Medieval and Tudor historian Helen Castor chooses an intricately beautiful historical novel by William Golding; Rob Hopkins, who campaigns for community solutions to global problems, opts for the 1940's diary of a city man whose war work takes him into agriculture for the first time. Harriett chooses a contemporary novel set in 1970's Argentina. Producer Christine Hall.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests discuss their three book recommendations: Constance Briscoe, writer and part-time judge, champions "Knowledge of Angels" by Jill Paton-Walsh; science writer Angela Seini chooses "Foundation" by science fiction writer Isaac Asimov; and Harriett's own choice is the autobiography of the late novelist Muriel Spark.

Jane Green and Adele Parks discuss why Chick Lit arouses such passion and how the genre, which is more often ignored than celebrated or reviewed in the press, has helped to expand the literary market. Belinda Jack joins us to explore the rich and chequered history of women’s reading, and the controversies it has inspired. And Jamie Andrews, the lead curator of the British Library’s Writing Britain exhibition, discusses Rural Dreams and the countryside.

Harriett Gilbert's guests are the actor Larry Lamb, best known for his recent roles in EastEnders and the comedy Gavin and Stacey, and the novelist, travel writer and broadcaster Ian Marchant.

Recorded in A Room for London, the creative / living space in the shape of a boat on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank of the Thames, Open Book explores the impact the city has had on literature - from Chaucer and Dickens to Martin Amis and Peter Ackroyd; the themes it evokes and why it creates such a diverse backdrop to novels. Mariella Frostrup is joined by novelists who've all been charmed by London - Will Self, Amanda Craig, Dreda Say Mitchell and Ben Aaronovitch.

Columnist and author Michele Hanson and Director of External Affairs at the Science Museum Group Roger Highfield discuss their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert.

Lionel Shriver discusses her controversial novel The New Republic which looks at the relationship between terrorism, the media and achieving political goals. We speak to the author of the classic novel Mrs Bridge - a tale of a woman trapped in her comfortable 1930s mid America world - and to Joshua Ferris about its enduring appeal. And Francine Prose, who has lectured in literature for over twenty years, argues there is much to learn for writers and readers alike in the mining of the classic.

Space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock and music producer William Orbit discuss their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert.

Deadly 60 presenter Steve Backshall and Editor of Gransnet Geraldine Bedell discuss their favourite books with Harriet Gilbert.

David Hewson explains how he's transported the cult Danish TV series The Killing into novel form and why readers should expect a twist in the tale. The programme looks at the experiences of writers and the state of publishing across Commonwealth countries with Jeremy Poynting, managing editor of Peepal Tree Press, and Lucy Hannah who runs the culture programme at the Commonwealth Foundation. And short story writer Helen Simpson discusses her new collection of her much loved tales dating back over 25 years.

Historian Orlando Figes discusses his book Just Send Me Word, the story of a young Muscovite exiled to a Soviet Arctic gulag and his relationship, through over one thousand five hundred letters, with his wife to be. Authors Anthony Quinn and Shehan Karunatilaka discuss how the game of cricket has inspired their latest books and Writing Britain: Wastelands to Wonderlands is a new exhibition at the British Library, where they have one hundred and fifty original items exploring how writers view Britain.

Mariella Frostrup talks to awarding winning poet and novelist Jackie Kay about her new collection of short stories Reality, Reality. Crime writer Laura Wilson joins writer and broadcaster James Runcie Coronation to discuss why the 50s is the literary decade of the moment. And Tim Coates talks about his new website bilbary.com which aims to increase the capacity of libraries to provide e-books for their customers.

Ross Raisin discusses his debut novel God's Own Country with James Naughtie.