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This week, Sara Wheeler reflects on monumental task of becoming Jan Morris's biographer; and Abigail Dembo reads us an intriguing new poem. 'Jan Morris: A Life', by Sara Wheeler 'He Wore His Leather Coat', by Abigail Dembo Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma Smith on how Shakespeare scholarship grapples with gaps; and Muriel Zagha admires François Ozon's noir adaptation of Camus's classic novel 'Book Culture in Shakespeare's Stratford: The Quiney Connections', by Marlin E. Blaine, Lena Cowen Orlin, Robert Bearman and Alan H. Nelson 'L'étranger', various cinemas Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been quite a month on The TLS Podcast, here's a listen back at some of the conversations we've had in March. We hear from Christy Edwall on the joys of being a lifelong bookworm, Sarah Lonsdale on the remarkable Clemence Dane, Julian Evans on two books exploring the link between food and war in Ukraine, and we revisit our interview with the inspirational Michael Morpurgo. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Emily Herring explains why we all need to take it a bit easier; and Ana Alicia Garza on the novelist whose ancestor inspired a Victorian classic. 'In Defence of Leisure: Experiments in living with Marion Milner', by Akshi Singh 'The Brain at Rest: Why doing nothing can change your life', by Joseph Jebelli Oliver Twist & Me: The true story of Dickens's best-loved novel', by Nicholas Blincoe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, John Banville considers the work of a formidable Irish writer; and Fiona Stafford on meetings with remarkable trees. 'An Arrow in Flight', by Mary Lavin, selected by Colm Tóibín 'The Genius of Trees: How trees mastered the elements and shaped the world', by Harriet Rix The Great Tree Story: How forests have shaped our world', by Levison Wood Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Julian Evans on two books exploring the link between food and war in Ukraine; and Lily Herd introduces this issue's In Brief reviews. 'Strong Roots: A Ukrainian family story, interrupted', by Olia Hercules 'Bread and War: A Ukrainian story of food, bravery and hope', by Felicity Spector In Brief: 'Postcards, translators and Esperanto pioneers', by Guilherme Fians, Bernhard Struck and Claire Taylor; 'Rapture of the deep', by Robert Irwin, completed by Andrew Crumey; 'Here comes the sun', by Bill McKibben; 'Queens at war', by Alison Weir; 'Interrupted journeys', by Adrian Potter; 'Literature and epistemic injustice', by Sarah Colvin; 'Invading the American canon', by Muireann Maguire; 'Nabokov and the Russian diaspora', by Bryan Karetnyk Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here is the interview with Michael Morpurgo in full. Produced by Charlotte Pardu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, an interview with the inspirational Michael Morpurgo; and David Horspool discusses the Second World War with Tim Bouverie, the winner of this year's Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize. 'The Line to Legend Land', with an introduction by Michael Morpurgo 'Black Beauty: A retelling', by Michael Morpurgo 'Allies at war: The politics of defeating Hitler', by Tim Bouverie Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the extraordinary stories of two pioneering women: Francesca Wade on Rhoda Power, and Sarah Lonsdale on Clemence Dane. 'In the Storm: Caught in the chaos of the Russian revolution 1917-18', by Rhoda Power 'Clemence Dane and Good Housekeeping: Modernity and common reading', by Stella Deen Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here is our full conversation with Francis Spufford, he joined us to talk about his new novel, Nonesuch. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Christy Edwall on the boon of being a bookworm; and Norma Clarke is impressed by a memoir of a childhood survived. 'Books: A manifesto, or, How to build a library', by Ian Patterson 'The gifts of reading for the next generation: Essays on nurturing a passion for reading', edited by Jennie Orchard 'Relearning to read: Adventures in not-knowing', by Ann Morgan 'Leaving Home: A memoir in full colour', by Mark Haddon Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As February draws to a close, we’re taking a listen back at some of the conversations we’ve had over the past month on The TLS Podcast. We listen back to Nick Enfield exploring the benefits of playing games, Mary Hitchman on the history of humanity's fascination with the moon, Peter Filkins, winner of the inaugural Freudenheim Translation Prize, joins us with chair of the judges Boyd Tonkin and Darra Goldstein on the hidden properties of kimchi and sourdough. Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, novelist Francis Spufford explains why the Blitz proved fertile territory for fantasy and the occult; and Darra Goldstein on the hidden properties of kimchi and sourdough.  'Nonesuch', by Francis Spufford 'Adventures in Fermentation: From ancient origins to culinary frontiers, an exploration of the microbes that shape the world we live in', by Johnny Drain 'Ferment: The life-changing power of microbes', by Tim Spector Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter Filkins, winner of the inaugural Freudenheim Translation Prize, joins us with chair of the judges Boyd Tonkin to talk about the mercurial genius of Elias Canetti; and a poem in praise of Tuesdays by Jamie McKendrick. 'The Book Against Death', by Elias Canetti, translated by Peter Filkins 'Mardi Gras', by Jamie McKendrick Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mary Beard dons her VR set to experience a Roman cataclysm; and Mary Hitchman on the history of humanity's fascination with the moon. 'The Last Days of Pompeii: The immersive exhibition', Immerse LDN, Excel, London, until March 15 'The Medieval Moon', by Ayoush Lazikani Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.