Jenny Offill – Dept. of Speculation

American novelist Jenny Offill talks to James Naughtie and readers about her novel Dept. of Speculation. The novel is the story of a relationship between two people whose names we never know. They meet by chance - she’s a writer and he's an artist working with sound. They write to each other and the return address on their envelopes is always Dept of Speculation. Egged on by a friend she calls the Philosopher they end up living together in a bug-infested apartment and have a daughter. But eventually this curiously-triggered relationship starts to falter; he has an affair and in the end The Protagonist, who now calls herself The Wife, realises she has to make the best of what life has thrown at her. Jenny talks about the structure and form of the novel, why the characters have no names - and what makes her happy. To take part in future Bookclubs apply at [email protected] May's Bookclub choice : The Faraway Nearby by Rebecca Solnit (2016) Presenter: James Naughtie

Producer : Dymphna Flynn