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: Jaipur Literature festival at the British Library
We speak to Namita Gokhale, founder and director of the annual ZEE Jaipur Literature festival. A taste of the festival will be at the British Library from 14-16 June to celebrate South Asia’s unique literary heritage.
Elif Shafak
Georgina Godwin talks to award-winning novelist Elif Shafak, the most widely read female author in Turkey. She’s previously been chosen by *Politico* as one of 12 people who can make the world better. This far-reaching interview includes discussion about issues of identity, language and her most recent book, *10 Minutes…
Monocle Reads: The Bookseller’s editor in chief Philip Jones
On Monocle Reads this week, Georgina Godwin speaks to Philip Jones. He is the editor in chief of The Bookseller, a weekly magazine which reports news from the publishing industry. The organisation also runs several prizes for the industry and publishes various specials annually.
Granta at 40
Granta is the hugely respected quarterly literary journal that publishes many of the world’s finest writers and photographers in themed issues, ranging from travel writing to investigative journalism. As it turns 40, Georgina Godwin speaks to one of its earliest editors, Ian Jack, and current editor and publisher Sigrid Rausing;…
Monocle Reads: Hay Festival
Hay Festival, which takes place in the Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye, is now in its 32nd year. It has become one of the most important events on the UK’s cultural calendar and is celebrated worldwide as a place where participants of all ages are invited to imagine the world…
Bernard-Henri Lévy
Georgina Godwin talks to the French philosopher, described as “the most prominent intellectual in France today”. The author, journalist, filmmaker and performer is now the inspiration behind United Artists for Europe.
Monocle Reads: ‘The Universe Speaks in Numbers’
Graham Farmelo is an award-winning science writer and biographer, and the author of ‘The Universe Speaks in Numbers: How Modern Maths Reveals Nature’s Deepest Secrets’.
Toby Faber
The independent publishing house Faber & Faber, which has been going for 90 years, remains at the forefront of British literature – producing Nobel laureates and Booker prizewinners, some of our finest poets and one of the best loved and longest running musicals in the world, ‘Cats’. Toby Faber is…
Monocle Reads: ‘Extraordinary Insects’
This week the UN told us that we’re facing a biodiversity crisis. Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson is a Norwegian conservation biologist and knows all about this. Her book ‘Extraordinary Insects: Weird. Wonderful. Indispensable. The ones who run our world’ is a bestseller in Norway and has been translated into more than 20…
Sisonke Msimang
Sisonke Msimang is one of the most exciting contemporary female black voices in literature. Her family is originally from South Africa where they were involved with founding the ANC. She writes beautifully on race, gender and democracy. As all eyes turn towards the South African elections she talks about growing…
