Meet the Writers
Georgina Godwin in conversation with top authors. Explore their inspirations, writing processes, and the stories behind their books.
Latest Episodes
Hilma Wolitzer
Hilma Wolitzer started writing as a child and had her first poem published at the tender age of nine. But it wasn’t until decades later, once she had had and raised her children, that her career really took off. Since then she has published 14 books and her daughter, Meg,…
Monocle Reads: Patrick Radden Keefe
Author and ‘The New Yorker’ staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe was this week named the winner of the 2021 Baillie Gifford prize for non-fiction. He sits down with Georgina Godwin to discuss his winning book, ‘Empire of Pain’, about the rise and fall of the Sackler dynasty.
Robert Peston
Before he became political editor of ITV News, Robert Peston’s career included stints as a journalist and presenter for the likes of ‘The Sunday Telegraph’ and the BBC. The author of multiple non-fiction books, he’s now turned his hand to fiction, although the theme doesn’t stray too far from what…
Monocle Reads: Caitlin Davies
Caitlin Davies is a novelist, non-fiction writer and teacher whose work is inspired by women forgotten by history. She speaks to Georgina Godwin about her latest book ‘Queens of the Underworld’, which tells the story of Britain’s female criminals, whose stories haven’t had the same exposure as the likes of…
Richard Powers
Georgina Godwin meets Richard Powers, an acclaimed writer with an array of awards under his belt – including a Pulitzer prize for fiction. While at university, he switched from majoring in physics to English literature but science has remained a central part of his writing. His new novel ‘Bewilderment’ was…
Monocle Reads: 2021 Booker winner Damon Galgut
Georgina Godwin speaks to the winner of the 2021 Booker prize, Damon Galgut. Having published his first novel at the age of 17 and having been shortlisted for the coveted prize twice before, Galgut’s time finally came in 2021. ‘The Promise’ is an ambitious novel, spanning four decades of South…
Elif Shafak
Elif Shafak is a bestselling author in several countries around the world and her work has been translated into a staggering 55 languages. A political scientist by training, her books are revered for their ability to weave intricate threads into enthralling stories. She talks to Georgina Godwin about her new…
Monocle Reads: Mark McGurl
US literary critic Mark McGurl is the Albert Guérard professor of literature at Stanford University, where his work centres on the relationship of literature to social, educational and other institutions. He tells Georgina Godwin about his new book, ‘Everything and Less: The Novel in the Age of Amazon’, which explores…
Baroness Hale
Baroness Hale is a trailblazer who was the first woman to serve in the role of president of the UK Supreme Court. While judges don’t tend to become too well-known, her ruling on the Brexit process shot her into the public eye – both for her judgement and a rather…
Monocle Reads: London Literature Festival
The London Literature Festival runs at the Southbank Centre from 21 to 31 October, bringing 10 days of the very best of live literature to the capital. This year the festival invites you to celebrate the joys and complexities of friendship with writers, poets, musicians, scientists and comedians. Georgina Godwin…
