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This week, Toby Lichtig introduces the pick of new fiction; and Nina Raine on adapting George Eliot's Middlemarch for the stage. 'The Rhyl Poster', by Tom McCarthy 'Doppelganger', by Sam Riviere 'The Brightness', by Chad Harbach 'Lords of Serendipity', by Randy Boyagoda 'The Death Ship', 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre', 'The Bridge in the Jungle', by B Traven 'Middlemarch', by Nina Raine, from the novel by George Eliot, Royal Shakespeare Company, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until January 16 2027 Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Frances Wilson plunges into two biographies of the self-mythologising mystery man Edgar Allan Poe; and Will Eaves joins us to read his poem 'The Cat'. 'Darkness Becomes Bright: The haunted life (and afterlife) of Edgar Allan Poe', by Emily Ogden 'Edgar Allan Poe: A life', by Richard Kopley Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Tristram Fane Saunders praises the form-busting brilliance of new Nobel Laureate Anne Carson; and Lily Herd on shooting stars, shipwrecks and hubris through the ages. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, David E Cooper on a mammoth history of the garden; and Larry Wolff takes in Macbeth at the Met. 'The Garden: Our 4,000-year quest for paradise', by Jonathan Bate 'Macbeth', by Giuseppe Verdi, Metropolitan Opera, New York, until October 20 Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sophie Oliver on Rebecca West's struggle with her love of clothing; and Robert Poole introduces us to a dashing 19th-century radical. 'A Fable for Christians', by Rebecca West 'Mad Tom's Rising: The revolutionary mystic Sir William Courtenay and the last battle fought on English soil', by Ian Breckon Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Patrick McGuinness delves into the moving and illuminating notebooks kept by Albert Camus; and Elizabeth Lowry on the untold lives of novelist Anita Brookner. 'The Complete Notebooks', by Albert Camus, translated by Ryan Bloom 'Anita Brookner: Art and life', by Hermione Lee Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Toby Lichtig on the six Booker hopefuls; and Kathryn Hughes joins us in an exploration of feline mysteries. 'Cats: A History', by Rod Phillips Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Rohan Maitzen on Rose Tremain's reimagining of Rebecca, and a new way of seeing the terrifying Mrs Danvers; and Jamie McKendrick reads his poem, 'The Importance of Time'. 'The Housekeeper', by Rose Tremain 'The Importance of Time', by Jamie McKendrick Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Anchit Sathi asks what an "author" is in the age of AI; and Keggie Carew on the world of symbiotic slime and friendly fungi. 'Togetherness: Symbiosis and the hidden story of life's greatest collaboration', by Rowan Hooper Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mary Beard gives us the inside track on what it's like to be a Booker Prize judge; and Russell Williams guides us through the highlights of a new season in French publishing. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we look back at the poets who've shared their work with us this year. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations about rest, relaxation and reading with Emily Herring and Christy Edwall.  Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we look back at some of the year's highlights, and illuminating conversations with Joanna Kavenna and Nick Enfield. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, A. E. Stallings takes stock of Christopher Nolan's Odyssey, a  “thrilling combination of seemingly opposite tendencies”; and Sam Riviere reads us a new poem 'The Odyssey', directed by Christopher Nolan 'Warm War' by Sam Riviere Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before we turn the page on July, here's a look back at some of the conversations from this month's episodes on The TLS Podcast. In this month's TLS Highlights, Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme; Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest Brontë sibling; Scarlett Baron considers an attempt to cut James Joyce down to size; Carrie Cracknell discusses the delights and challenges of directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia; and Ben Street reflects on the tricky business of artists at the cinema. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.