Freedom, Books, Flowers & The Moon

In the second of our summer round-ups, we revisit Richard Smyth discussing the life and the work of the naturalist Ronald Blythe; and Lucasta Miller on an extraordinary collection of commonplace books.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of our seasonal round-ups, we look back at Stephen Marche on the agonies of the writing life; and Nat Segnit dives into Adam Gopnik's survey of mastery.'On writing and failure: Or, the peculiar perseverance required toendure the life of a writer', by Stephen Marche'The real work: On the mystery of mastery', by Adam GopnikProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kate Hext on women who have run or climbed their way through the world, despite efforts to stop them; and Alice Robb thinks about how - and why - we tell stories through dance.'In Her Nature: How Women Break Boundaries in the Great Outdoors', by Rachel HewittProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, cycling commentator par excellence Ned Boulting on the Tour de France of a century ago; and Peter Parker delves into the many faces of the self-styled 'Master' playwright, Noel Coward.'1923: The Mystery of Lot 212 and a Tour de France Obsession', by Ned Boulting'Masquerade: The Lives of Noel Coward', by Oliver Soden Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, AE Stallings, the new Oxford professor of poetry, on the lives of poets; and Ann Kennedy Smith considers the different faces of Cornwall.'Sleeping on islands: A life in poetry', by Andrew Motion'The American poet laureate: A history of US poetry and the state', by Amy Paeth'The granite kingdom: A Cornish journey', by Tim Hannigan'Treasures of Cornwall: A literary anthology', edited by Luke Thompson Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mary Beard is fascinated by an ancient graffito, and novelist Michael Hughes on the murder case that almost brought down the Irish government.A Don's Life: https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/virgil-on-pots-and-walls-blog-post-mary-beard/'A Thread of Violence: A Story of Truth, Invention and Murder', by Mark O'ConnellProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathleen Taylor considers human personality under assault from advanced dementia.https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/alzheimer-dementia-sandeep-jauhar-dasha-kiper-susan-elkin-book-review-kathleen-taylor/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's bumper podcast, George Berridge assesses the legacy of Cormac McCarthy; Toby Lichtig on this summer's ideal reads; and an interview with American novelist Brandon Taylor.'The Late Americans', by Brandon TaylorProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Owen Matthews on the triumph of the Kremlin propaganda machinehttps://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/russia-ian-garner-jade-mcglynn-alexandar-mihailovic-alexander-etkind-book-review-owen-matthews/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, an exhibition of the Italian Renaissance painter Lavinia Fontana's work thrills Norma Clarke; and Kieran Setiya on Sarah Bakewell's bravura survey of the history of humanism.'Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer, rule breaker', at the National Gallery of Ireland until August 27, with accompanying book by Aoife Brady, Babette Bohn and Jonquil O'Reilly'Humanly Possible: Seven hundred years of humanist freethinking, enquiry and hope' by Sarah BakewellProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Thonemann on a civilization that questions its first principles.https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/the-west-naoise-mac-sweeney-book-review-peter-thonemann/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lucy and Alex head to Hay, and find guest stars Eleanor Catton and Sarah Raven.Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Edward Chancellor considers why central bankers have lost the plot with inflation.https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/we-need-to-talk-about-inflation-stephen-d-king-book-review-edward-chancellor/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Norma Clarke unpicks the complicated business of family legacy in Polly Toynbee’s memoir; and Nicholas Clee immerses himself in Paul Murray’s multi-generational saga of Irish small-town life.'An Uneasy Inheritance: My Family and Other Radicals’ by Polly Toynbee’The Bee Sting’ by Paul MurrayProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Moran explores the weird world of fandom.https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/fans-michael-bond-book-review-joe-moran/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, TLS contributors on what art and literature mean in a time of crisis; and we take a trip to the melancholy, beautiful, faded English seaside.‘The Seaside: England’s Love Affair’, by Madeleine BuntingProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kate Simpson introduces us to the precarious and vital world of the gastropods; and James McConnachie plunges into the teeming waters of the St George’s Channel.‘A World in a Shell: Snail Stories for a Time of Extinctions’ by Thom van Dooren’The Turning Tide: A Biography of the Irish Sea’ by Jon GowerProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abigail Green considers a panoramic account of the continent-wide outbreak of revolutions in 1848.https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/revolutionary-spring-christopher-clark-book-review-abigail-green/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ben Hutchinson takes us to Paris to survey the invention of type; and Joe Moran on giving your creativity a workout.‘Imprimer! L’Europe de Gutenberg’, Bibliothèque nationale de France, until July 16'Imprimer! L’Europe de Gutenberg 1450-1520’, edited by Nathalie Coilly and Caroline Vrand‘The Imagination Muscle: Where good ideas come from (and how to have more of them)’, by Albert ReadProduced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tyler Cowen on the advantages of gradual reform over long-term thinking.https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/the-long-view-richard-fisher-the-lost-future-jan-zielonka-gradual-greg-berman-aubrey-fox-book-review-tyler-cowen/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.