Meet the Writers
Georgina Godwin in conversation with top authors.Explore their inspirations, writing processes, and the stories behind their books.
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Latest Episodes
Monocle Reads: Bill Samuel
Bill Samuel’s grandfather started the iconic London bookshop Foyles more than a century ago. In his new memoir, ‘An Accidental Bookseller’, Samuel tells the story of his lifelong relationship with Foyles. It covers fond childhood memories of his eccentric and brilliant grandfather, William Foyle, and touches on his own time…
Nicola Tallis
This week we join Georgina Godwin as she talks to Nicola Tallis. Starting her career in the beauty industry she was told she shouldn’t bother with university. This talented historian, curator, lecturer and author now has a Phd and has published her fourth book on prominent women in history.
Monocle Reads: Dan Smith
Dan Smith discovers secrets about fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in his new book, ‘Sherlock Unlocked: Little-Known Facts About the World’s Greatest Detective’, which was published this year.
Victoria Hislop
Join Georgina Godwin as she talks to ‘Sunday Times’ bestselling author Victoria Hislop. Her first novel, ‘The Island’, was inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony. The book became an international bestseller and a 26-part television adaptation was screened in Greece. Now firmly established as one…
Monocle Reads: Caroline Taggart
Caroline Taggart worked in publishing as a non-fiction editor for 30 years before starting her career as an author with her books ‘I Used to Know That’ and ‘My Grammar and I’, which became ‘Sunday Times’ bestsellers. She’s recently published her latest book, ‘Improve Your Word Power’, which introduces the…
Damian Barr
On ‘Meet The Writers’ this week, join me, Georgina Godwin, as I talk to Damian Barr. His novel ‘Maggie and Me’ won ‘The Sunday Times’ Memoir of the Year and his latest novel, ‘You Will Be Safe Here’, has already received high praise. The conversation ranges from his abusive childhood,…
Monocle Reads: ‘The Men Who Stare At Hens’
Simon Leyland is a city trader-turned-author whose most recent book, ‘The Men Who Stare At Hens’, explores the wonderful eccentricities of Irish history. His book covers more than 100 short biographies describing the more unusual habits of some famous Irish people.
Charles Cumming
Georgina Godwin talks to bestselling UK thriller writer Charles Cumming about his book ‘The Man Between’. Cumming has been described as one of the best of the new generation taking over from where John le Carré and Len Deighton left off. He’s won the Crime Writers’ Association Ian Fleming steel…
Monocle Reads: Hannah Critchlow
Georgina Godwin sits down with Hannah Critchlow, a UK scientist, writer and broadcaster, and author of ‘The Science of Fate: Why Your Future is More Predictable Than You Think’. The book explores the idea that concepts such as free will and destiny don’t exist. It also explains how anxieties and…
Sue Nelson and Wally Funk
As part of the Mercury 13, Wally Funk was one of the pioneering women of space travel, frequently outperforming male astronaut candidates in tests of endurance. But just one week before the final phase of training, the programme was abruptly cancelled. Politics and prejudice meant that Wally never flew into…
