7 November 2019
14 minutes
Some of Alwyn Turner’s finest books are a series of in-depth looks into modern British history, where he explores the social, political and cultural issues of each decade. ‘A Classless Society: Britain in the 1990s’ is his most recent effort, exploring everything from Tony Blair to Britpop.
7 November 2019
Share episode
DownloadWant more radio episodes like these in your inbox?
Sign up to Monocle’s email newsletters to stay on top of news and opinion, plus the latest from the magazine, radio, film and shop.
Meet the Writers - latest episodes
Andrey Kurkov
One of Ukraine’s most successful literary exports speaks to Georgina Godwin. Before turning to writing, Kurkov served as a prison warden and later a journalist before trying his hand at fiction. He boasts a wealth of novels…
Monocle Reads: 'The Pachinko Parlour’
Elisa Shua Dusapin is a Franco-Korean writer and author of the award-winning novel ‘Winter in Sokcho’. She sits down with Georgina Godwin to talk about her latest book, ‘The Pachinko Parlour’, which was recently published…
Gavin Plumley
The British cultural historian and writer speaks to Georgina Godwin. Gavin’s first book is ‘A Home for All Seasons’, published earlier this year to wide acclaim. Part-memoir, part-history, the book recounts how Gavin and…
Monocle Reads: Why We Play
Joanna Fortune is a psychotherapist and a trauma and attachment repair specialist. She speaks to Georgina Godwin about her latest book, ‘Why We Play: How to Find Joy and Meaning in Everyday Life’. It looks at the import…
Felix Francis
Before Felix Francis became a novelist he spent many years as a physics teacher, helping his father, crime writer and jockey Dick Francis, with research in his spare time. After his father’s death, Francis became a full…
Monocle Reads: ‘All the Knowledge in the World’
Georgina Godwin speaks to British journalist and non-fiction author Simon Garfield about his latest book, ‘All the Knowledge in the World’. It looks at the fascinating history of the encyclopaedia and asks what value there…
Jill Dawson
The bestselling author on her extensive writing career and latest novel, ‘The Bewitching’. Based on the 16th-century case of the witches of Warboys, the story follows Alice Samuel who accuses a neighbour of witchcraft and…
Monocle Reads: ‘Survival of the Richest‘
Douglas Rushkoff is an award-winning writer and media theorist who was named as one of the world’s 10 most influential intellectuals by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He speaks to Georgina Godwin about his…
Michael Arditti
The award-winning English author and literary critic talks to Georgina Godwin about his 30-year career. His latest novel, ‘The Young Pretender’, is about the rise, fall and attempted comeback of long-forgotten child actor…
Monocle Reads: ‘Let’s Talk’
Nihal Arthanayake is an award-winning broadcaster and presenter who has won several accolades for his conversational skills, including Interview of the Year at the 2019 BBC Radio and Music Awards. He speaks to Georgina…
Alex Harvey
The British author, director and producer tells Georgina Godwin about his latest book, ‘Song Noir: Tom Waits and the Spirit of Los Angeles’, a gritty account of Waits’ formative first decade in LA. Harvey has produced and…
Monocle Reads: 'My Family and Other Enemies'
Mary Novakovich is an award-winning travel journalist who has written and edited numerous European guidebooks over the past 30 years. She speaks to Georgina Godwin about her latest book, ‘My Family and Other Enemies’, which…
Margie Orford
South African writer Margie Orford is an award-winning journalist, film director and author. She is an honorary fellow of St Hugh’s College, Oxford, and the president emerita of Pen South Africa. She talks to Georgina…
Monocle Reads: ‘Social Warming’
Charles Arthur is a writer, journalist and speaker who has been reporting on science and technology for more than 30 years. He speaks to Georgina Godwin about his latest book ‘Social Warming’. It is an insightful and imp…
Shehan Karunatilaka
The award-winning Sri Lankan writer talks to Georgina Godwin about his highly anticipated new book, ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’. Long-listed for the 2022 Booker prize, the satirical novel follows his critically…
