A Good Read

Mariella Frostrup speaks to Catherine Fletcher who discusses her non fiction book Our Man In Rome: Henry VIII and His Italian Ambassador; Horror fiction with Helen Dunmore who explains why she wanted to be part of this genre and the inspiration behind her novel The Greatcoat; depictions of students in literature - Ben Masters, author of new book Noughties and Prof John Bowen discuss whether we have we moved on from toffs, geeks, rebellion and beer.

Mariella talks to Susan Hill about her bestselling Woman in Black; she hears how to write about places you've never been; Matt Thorne takes a look at debut novels to watch in 2012 and historian Kate Williams talks about her new work of fiction.

Mariella talks to Gillian Slovo about her new novel set between the deserts of North Africa, Ben Kane brings Spartacus the Gladiator to life and Philip Jones, Deputy Editor of the Bookseller, discusses the impact of Amazon’s expansion into the traditional publishing arena.

Mariella and John Mullan discuss listeners’ recommendations for funniest book, Sue Townsend responds to her balloon debate victory, an interview with online publishing sensation Amanda Hocking, and Samantha Harvey talks about her new novel All is Song.

With a scholar and an actor, Frances Fyfield visits London's Victoria and Albert Museum to explore the frantic manuscript of Dickens' historical thriller 'A Tale of Two Cities'.

Mariella Frostrup and her line up of comedians and authors debate their funniest book. Taking the stage in the Radio Theatre to convince an audience that their choice is the most chortle-worthy will be Jo Brand, Tony Parsons, A L Kennedy, Christopher Brookmyre and John Sessions.

Mariella continues her celebration of funny books and funny writers with award winning comic novelist Christopher Brookmyre discussing why Jeff Torrington's 1992 Whitbread Award winning novel "Swing Hammer Swing" is his choice for Open Book's Funniest Book. In the concluding part of Open Book's Mini History of Comic Writing resident expert John Mullan joins award winning screenwriter Sir Ronald Harwood to discuss the two comic writing giants of the 20th century - P G Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh. And Gaza through the eyes of a British Palestinian - Selma Dabbagh discusses her debut novel "Out Of It".

Mariella continues Open Book's celebration of funny books with writer and comedian Jo Brand, whose choice for Open Book's Funniest Book is "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 and Three Quarters" by Sue Townsend which was first published in 1982. In Open Book's Mini History of Comic Writing Professor of Literature at UCL John Mullan is joined by former politician, writer and Dickens fan Roy Hattersley to discuss the genius of Charles Dickens' comedy. And novelists as critics - how carefully do writers have to proceed when reviewing the work of fellow writers? DJ Taylor, Booker-nominated for his novel Derby Day, and fellow writer and chief book reviewer for Time Magazine.

Chief Executive of Oxfam Barbara Stocking, and historian Lucy Worsley discuss their favourite paperbacks with Harriett Gilbert.

Barbara's choice is Antonia Fraser's intimate portrait of her relationship with Harold Pinter: Must You Go.

Lucy's book is a kitchen classic: Food in England by Dorothy Hartley.

Harriett's choice is the seedy crime thriller that gave us the malevolent character Pinkie: Brighton Rock by Graham Greene.

Producer: Toby Field.

Tony Parsons opts for The Virgin Soldiers in the search for Open Book's Funniest Book and Mariella Frostrup talks to Jenny Uglow in the next in the series of Open Book's mini-history of comic writing. Suzy Feay and Elvie Wyld run through some of their choices for the most readable books of 2011.