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
Monocle Reads: Call and Response
Georgina Godwin speaks to writer Gothataone Moeng about her highly anticipated new collection of short stories ‘Call and Response’. Set between the rural village of Serowe and the capital Gaborone; the book tells stories…
Sarah May
The acclaimed British novelist and playwright speaks to Georgina Godwin about angry women, the suburbs and her latest book ‘Becky’, a modern reimagining of William Thackery’s ‘Vanity Fair’. Its eponymous character is a…
Monocle Reads: ‘The Wife of Bath: A Biography‘
Marion Turner is the JRR Tolkien Professor of English Literature and Language at the University of Oxford and an authority on Chaucer. She sits down with Georgina Godwin to discuss her new book, ‘The Wife of Bath: A Biog…
Howard Jacobson
The Booker Prize-winning author joined Georgina Godwin at Cheltenham Literature Festival to talk about his new memoir, ‘Mother’s Boy: A Writer’s Beginning’. Howard talks about becoming a writer at 40 and describes how his…
Monocle Reads: ‘Why the F*ck Can’t I Change?’
Georgina Godwin speaks to neuroscientist Gabija Toleikyte about her latest book, ‘Why the F*ck Can’t I Change?’, which takes us on a journey through the human brain and the science behind change. With simple tips and pra…
Sally Gardner
The award-winning author and illustrator sits down with Georgina Godwin. They discuss dyslexia, Sally’s early career in theatre and her new novel, The Weather Woman, which touches on topics such as climate change and gender…
Monocle Reads: ‘Invasion‘
Luke Harding is an award-winning foreign correspondent for ‘The Guardian’. He speaks to Georgina Godwin about his latest book, ‘Invasion: Russia’s Bloody War and Ukraine’s Fight for Survival’ – the first book of reportage…
The Best of 2022 – Part 2
To welcome in the new year, we look back at the people behind the prose that we’ve featured in 2022. In part two of two, we listen back to some of our favourite interviews with authors NoViolet Bulawayo, Ilja Leonard Pfe…
The Best of 2022 – Part 1
To celebrate the festive season we listen back to conversations with the award-winning authors Ruth Ozeki, Katherine Rundell, Percival Everett and the winner of the 2022 Booker Prize, Shehan Karunatilaka.
Jarvis Cocker
The musician best known as the frontman of Pulp sat down with Georgina Godwin at Cheltenham Literary Festival.
Monocle Reads: ‘The Elephant Conspiracy‘
Georgina Godwin sits down with former British anti-apartheid leader and cabinet minister Peter Hain to discuss his latest novel on the corrupt business of poaching, ‘The Elephant Conspiracy’. It is the sequel to his succ…
Paul Feig
Georgina Godwin meets US actor, director, comedian and film-maker Paul Feig. He is best known for directing ‘Bridesmaids’, ‘The Heat’ and ‘Ghostbusters’. His latest book is ‘Cocktail Time!: The Ultimate Guide to Grown-Up…
Monocle Reads: Emily’s Walking Book Club
Georgina Godwin speaks to Emily Rhodes, the inventor of Emily’s Walking Book Club. Started in 2012, the book club has monthly meetings where Emily guides other reading enthusiasts on a “walk and talk” across the beautiful…
Percival Everett
Georgina Godwin speaks to the winner of the 2022 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction: celebrated American author Percival Everett. His winning novel ‘The Trees’, which was also shortlisted for the 2022…
Monocle Reads: ‘Unsuitable for Females’
Georgina Godwin speaks to sports journalist and academic Carrie Dunn about her new book ‘Unsuitable for Females’, which tells the story of the Lionesses and the inspiring yet troubled history of women’s football in England…
