A Good Read

Mariella Frostrup talks to Juan Gabriel Vasquez about his novel Reputations

Mariella Frostrup talks to Kit de Waal, Researching novels, Counter-factual fiction.

Mariella Frostrup talks to Alan Cartwright about Iron Towns

Mariella Frostrup talks to Alan Cartwright about Iron Towns

Mariella Frostrup talks to children's author Allan Ahlberg

Mariella Frostrup talks to children's author Allan Ahlberg

Mariella Frostrup talks to David Szalay and Ted Hodgkinson about being a man

On the 400th anniversary of his death, Mariella Frostrup discusses the work and legacy of Miguel de Cervantes with authors Daniel Hahn and Deborah Levy. Cervantes is often credited with inventing the modern novel and the playful wit and digressive plotting of Don Quixote have influenced generations of writers.

Playwright Barney Norris talks to Mariella about his first novel Five Rivers Met On A Wooded Plain . Set in Salisbury, it's about five characters whose lives are united - and transformed - by a car accident. He talks about the importance of the cathedral city to his life and work.

Also on the programme, Mariella investigates new ways of getting a book published with self publishing star Rachel Abbott and Angus Phillips from the Oxford Centre for Publishing, and novelist Francesca Haig rails against the critical term 'literary'.

Kate Tempest is an acclaimed rapper, poet and playwright and now she's added novelist to her CV. She talks to Mariella Frostrup about her debut, The Bricks That Built The Houses, the story of three young Londoners trying to escape their complicated lives.

Aardman animations co-founder Peter Lord and comedian Russell Kane join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Susan Pinker, Russell Hoban and Nathaneal West.

Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban,

The Village Effect by Susan Pinker,

Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathaneal West.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2016.