Meet the Writers
Georgina Godwin in conversation with top authors. Explore their inspirations, writing processes, and the stories behind their books.
Latest Episodes
Antoine Laurain
The French novelist, screenwriter, journalist and director Antoine Laurain joins Georgina Godwin at Monocle’s London studios to discuss his tenth novel, ‘An Astronomer in Love’. He takes inspiration from the true story of Louis XV’s astronomer and combines it with a beautiful, modern Parisian love story. Laurain also talks about…
Amanda Craig
Sitting down with Georgina Godwin this week is the hugely acclaimed novelist, short-story writer and critic Amanda Craig. She returns to the show with her latest novel, ‘The Three Graces’. Set in contemporary Tuscany, the book examines the current state of Europe and explores difficult themes such as migration, racial…
Calder Walton
Georgina is joined by Calder Walton, a historian of intelligence and global security at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is a world-leading expert in intelligence history, great-power conflict, espionage and grand strategy. He also regularly contributes to the ‘BBC’, ‘Foreign Policy’ and ‘The Washington Post’. His new book…
Damian Lanigan
Joining Georgina Godwin in the studio this week is author and playwright Damian Lanigan. In his latest book, ‘The Ghost Variations’, protagonist Declan Byrnie’s career as a sought-after concert pianist is brought to a halt when tragedy strikes. Despite Lanigan having never played an instrument, he beautifully translates music to…
Andrew Boyd
Andrew Boyd, the American writer, activist and CEO – or “Chief Existential Officer” of the Climate Clock – joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his new book ‘I Want a Better Catastrophe: Navigating the Climate Crisis with Grief, Hope and Gallows Humor’. Described by Brian Eno as “a new and genuinely…
Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor is a bestselling author, politician, public intellectual and former diplomat. This week he joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his new book ‘BR Ambedkar: The Man Who Gave Hope to India’s Dispossessed’ and his long career in public service.
Catherine Joy White
Catherine Joy White, an actress, author and gender advisor for the UN, sits down with Georgina Godwin to discuss her new book, ‘This Thread of Gold: a Celebration of Black Womanhood’.
Paul Burston
Paul Burston is an acclaimed Welsh writer, journalist, documentarian and activist. He has dedicated his career to creating and promoting LGBTQ+ stories, both in his own work and by lifting up other artists. He joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his new memoir, ‘We Can Be Heroes: A Survivor’s Story’.
Tom Rachman
Tom Rachman is a bestselling English-Canadian novelist. After a successful career as a journalist and a foreign correspondent, he published his debut novel in 2010 to wide acclaim. This week Rachman joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his new book, ‘The Imposters’ – a darkly funny story about a failed writer…
Monocle Reads: ‘The Great White Bard’
Farah Karim-Cooper is Globe professor of Shakespeare studies at King’s College London. She is also the co-director of education at Shakespeare’s Globe as well as an executive board member of RaceB4Race, a collective of scholars and institutions that seek racial justice in the field of pre-modern literary studies. Georgina Godwin sits…
