28. Hemingway’s Spanish Civil War: For Whom The Bell Tolls
How did the Spanish Civil War inspire one of Ernest Hemingway’s greatest novels? Why was Hemingway so captivated by Spain? And, were the characters of For Whom The Bell Tolls inspired by real people? ...
17 Aug 1h 19min
27. Brave New World: The Dystopia That Came True?
How does Aldous Huxley satirise roaring twenties America? Is a Brave New World more realistic than 1984? And, what is the novel's Shakespearean connection? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett...
10 Aug 1h 22min
26. Mafia and Mystery: Is ‘My Brilliant Friend’ the Greatest Novel of the Century?
What does My Brilliant Friend tell us about the dark underbelly of Italian society after the Second World War? Who is the mysterious Elena Ferrante? And, how did she craft a heartbreaking parable of e...
3 Aug 1h 12min
25. The Thirty-Nine Steps: The First James Bond
How did the First World War inspire The 39 Steps? Why did John Buchan set the novel in Scotland? And, is the dashing protagonist Richard Hannay, a model for later Spy heroes? Join Dominic Sandbrook...
27 Jul 1h 12min
24. Jane Austen, Nazis and Murder: The Ultimate Summer Reading List
Which books should you take on your summer holiday? How have some of Dominic and Tabby’s favourite destinations shaped these novels? And, what makes a summer classic? Email us: thebookclub@goalha...
23 Jul 39min
23. The Odyssey Retold: Circe, Monsters and Myth
How does Madeline Miller re-work Greek mythology to explore women’s experience? Is Circe the best fantasy novel of the 2010s? And, why do we remain captivated by the world of ancient Greece? Join Dom...
20 Jul 1h 10min
22. The Leopard: The Greatest Historical Novel Ever Written?
How did Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s family story shape his only novel, The Leopard? Why is The Leopard considered an Italian masterpiece? And, who is the sexiest man ever written? Join Dominic S...
13 Jul 1h 21min
21. The Wind In The Willows: How A Bedtime Story Became An Icon
How did Kenneth Grahame come up with the idea for The Wind In The Willows? Why was the novel initially rejected by publishers? And, what character would Tabby and Dominic be? Join Dominic Sandbrook a...
6 Jul 1h 32min
