So this episode is a bit unusual for a variety of reasons. First of all, it’s with a good friend of mine – novelist Arthur Larrue. As you might have guessed from his name, though, Arthur Larrue is French and this entire interview is conducted in French. So unless you speak French, or are trying to test your linguistic abilities, this episode might not be the one for you. However, if you are a fellow Francophone, join me for a lively and insightful chat with an author who has navigated both the clandestine world of anarchist squats in Saint-Petersburg and the literary splendor of Russian novels. From the whiskey-fueled brilliance of Faulkner to the modernist zest of Apollinaire, and the revolutionary writings of Jean-Patrick Manchette, this episode is a whirlwind tour through the minds and lives of literary greats. Tune in for a fun and thought-provoking discussion – and if not, see you next time instead.

Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

Welcome to this very special episode of the Lit With Charles podcast, where instead of interviewing an interesting guest, I’m actually responding to 10 listeners’ burning questions! Today, you’ll get to hear about my earliest memory of falling in love with reading, and how Stephen King's thrilling tales resonated in  my pre-teen years. I’ll be spilling the beans on why Roberto Bolaño's 'The Savage Detectives' didn't click for me, and chatting about my scepticism around 'must-read' lists – like those ones that crop up from Barack Obama and the New York Times.

Also on the menu: the recent Nobel Prize announcement, and the shock disclosure of which one single classic novel fails to impress me – it’s a cultural favourite, and I think it might be a controversial pick. I even manage to touch on my Instagram book review origins (a collection of COVID-19 quarantine updates that went viral) and the shape of this book-loving ecosystem that we’ve built as a community. It's a roller-coaster of reflections, confessions, and some good old fashioned literary nostalgia. Let's jump in!

Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

Today I sat down with Vanessa Beaumont, a former literary agent and novelist about her debut novel The Other Side of Paradise which follows Jean Buckman, a young American newspaper heiress, who arrives in London in the glittering 1920s, and evolves throughout the story, through personal tragedy and loss. Over the course of the story, we watch her grapple with the pressures of mid-Century society on a woman, what it means to do one’s duty, and the pull of desire in the face of it all. It’s kind of a Downtown Abbey meets Francis Scott Fitzgerald, with a modern feminist perspective

As always, Vanessa picked the four books which have had the biggest impact on her as both a reader and a writer, and we also discussed her career trajectory. Before publishing The Other Side of Paradise, Vanessa spent 8 years as a Commissioning Editor at Short Books, and co-founded and ran a literary agency, so it was fascinating to get some insights from that. It was such a great conversation, and as always, such a pleasure talking with Vanessa.

Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

Vanessa Beaumont’s four books were:

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott (1868)

The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton (1920)

Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh (1945)

Tender is the Night, F Scott Fitzgerald (1934)

Today I sat down with Éric Chacour, a Canadian novelist born to Egyptian parents, to discuss his stunning debut novel. What I Know About You has captivated readers in its original French, winning the prestigious Prix Femina des Lycéens, and been translated into numerous languages, and with Pablo Strauss’ 2024 translation, now makes its grand entrance into the English-speaking world.

Eric's novel, which he spent 10 years working on before it was published in 2023, is a richly woven tapestry of family, love, loss, and the queer identity. Set against the backdrop of a changing Egypt, the story shines a light on the tension between personal desires and cultural expectations, offering readers a nuanced look at what it means to belong in different settings.

In this episode, as always, Eric has selected for us the four books which have most strongly influenced his life and literary journey – from tales of mysterious libraries to the adventures of dashing heroes. But, we also spend some time getting to grips with Eric's creative process, the inspirations behind his storytelling, and what it means to write a novel that crosses both geographical and emotional borders. I was so interested to learn about his path to becoming a novelist, from youthful inspiration to the sometimes challenging reality of life as a published author, and how Canadian national treasure Celine Dion fits into the picture. This was a great chat, and I’ve definitely come away from it with my mind expanded. 

Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

Eric Chacour’s four books were:

The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón (2001)

The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas (1844)

Promise at Dawn, Romain Gary (1960)

The Orphan Muses, Michel Marc Bouchard (1989)

In this week's podcast episode, I sat down with Florence Gaub, the Director of Research at the NATO Defense College in Rome. A World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council member, and Vice-President of the European Forum Alpbach, Florence is a master of strategic foresight and international security. Her latest book, The Future, is a must-read, exploring how humanity's visions of tomorrow have shifted in different historical contexts. Our conversation spanned various domains, from the fascinating work being done at NATO to her new book, which I read and absolutely loved. Although it’s not out in English yet, I have been assured that the release is on the horizon – so keep your eyes peeled!

In our conversation, Florence walked us through her career, the impact of her recent publication, and, as always, the four books which have been most pivotal in her life and her work. From a mysterious Dutch novel from her childhood to Isaac Asimov's The Foundation, each pick tells a unique story about how we perceive time, and how this has changed in line with the maturation of our societies. Excitingly, Florence also shared some insights into the methodology of strategic foresight and the ethical implications of forecasting the future – and the technologies she thinks we’ll look back on and laugh at in 100 years time.

Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

Florence’s four books were:

The Towers of February, Tonke Dragt (1973)

The Foundation Part 1, Isaac Asimov (1951)

Nos Derniers Festins, Chantal Pelletier (2019)

Julia, Sandra Newman (2023)

My guest today is the writer Charlie Higson, author of On His Majesty’s Secret Service, the latest Bond continuation novel. Written to coincide with King Charles's coronation and the 60th anniversary of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the book brings Bond into the modern era in a narrative that identifies very real geopolitical threats with some good old Bondian adventure. 

For those of you to whom the name Charlie Higson his familiar, that’s because he was one of the writers and performers of The Fast Show, a cult British comedy show from the mid-90s. In this episode, Charlie and I discuss his literary tastes through the four books that have shaped his work, as well as his creative practices, and of course the way to achieve a new rendition of the world’s most fabulous spy. Modern Bond is less anchored in mid-Century wartime solemnity, and more attuned to the nuanced global landscape of 2024, which made for a really refreshing read. From his diverse reading selections to his personal take on the character, Charlie's insights were both enriching and hilarious. Whether you're a Bond enthusiast or just generally a lover of literary discussions, this episode is an absolute treasure trove of insight and inspiration – and not one to be missed!

Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

Charlie’s four books were:

Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake (1946-59)

Pop 1280, Jim Thompson (1964)

The Watcher, Charles Maclean (1982)

From Russia with Love, Ian Fleming (1957)

Stanley Kubrick was a visionary American filmmaker, whose groundbreaking work redefined cinema. Renowned for his meticulous attention to detail, visual innovation and the complexity of his narratives, Kubrick's films crossed many genres. Perhaps most interestingly for Lit With Charles listeners, many of his most famous movies also began their lives as books. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) set new standards in science fiction, while A Clockwork Orange (1971) delved into dystopian violence. His horror masterpiece, The Shining (1980), remains a genre-defining classic. Beyond his creative output, he had a reputation as a complicated somewhat anti-social man, with both foibles and genius aplenty. Kubrick's relentless pursuit of perfection and his ability to push cinematic boundaries have solidified his legacy as one of the most influential and enigmatic directors of all time.

This week, I had the incredible opportunity to talk with Robert P. Kolker and Nathan Abrams, the joint co-authors of Kubrick, a new and comprehensive biography of the great director, published by Faber & Faber earlier this year, which for fans of Kubrick and beyond,  is an absolutely enlightening read. Robert Kolker is an American film historian, theorist and critic, who has authored a number of books on film, including A Cinema of Loneliness and Triumph over Containment. Nathan is a professor of Film Studies at Bangor University in the UK, and the co-founder of Jewish Film and New Media, an international academic journal which analyses Jewish film, television and other media across the years.

In today’s episode, Robert, Nathan and I discuss, as always, the four books which have shaped them most as thinkers, scholars and writers, along with the luminary life of their fascinating subject. So, join us as we peel back the curtain on the personal, public, and creative life of the 20th Century’s most important movie-maker.

Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

Book selections:

Robert: 

Anatomy of Criticism, Northrope Frye, (1957)

The collective works of Samuel Beckett, particularly the novels Malone Dies (1951) and The Unnamable (1953), and the play Endgame (1957).

Nathan:

The Unfinished Journey: America Since WWII, William H Chafe (1986)

Ordeal of Civility: Freud, Marx, Levi-Strauss, and the Jewish Struggle With Modernity, John Murray Cuddihy (1974)

Leila Slimani is a highly acclaimed French-Moroccan author who has written some absolutely fantastic novels over the last few years. She burst into the mainstream consciousness when she won the prestigious Prix Goncourt in France in 2016 for her second novel Chanson Douce, which was translated into English in 2018 as The Perfect Nanny in the US, or Lullaby in the UK.

She followed this up with non-fiction work as well as a fantastic trilogy which is two-thirds finished, called  “Le Pays des Autres” (The Country of Others) in which the second novel “Regardez-nous danser” (Watch Us Dance) has just been translated into English.

In today’s episode, Leïla and I discuss, as always, the four books which have most influenced her writing – spanning all the way from early childhood literary beginnings, all the way to some very contemporary picks.

The London-based writer and journalist, Aniefiok Ekpoudom, joins me today to discuss his recent debut book, Where We Come From, which is a ‘history of rap, home and hope in modern Britain’, recently published by Faber & Faber in the UK. 

When grime music emerged in the early 2000s, born on the streets of East London, it fused elements of UK garage, drum and bass, and dancehall into a dynamic, fast-paced sound. With raw authenticity and sharp lyrical narratives, grime quickly made its mark, both changing the shape of contemporary British music influencing global trends with its undeniable flair.

In his book, “Neef” goes to the very origin points of some of the earliest artists in this genre, across different areas of Britain to investigate its earliest beginnings, as well as its growth, and the artists who were most influential in pushing it.

In today’s episode, we discuss the four books which have most informed his development as a thinker and a writer – be that in terms of literary styles, interesting subject matters, or new approaches to integrating creative elements into non-fiction stories. It was such a great conversation, and I’m very excited to share it with you.

Italian literature is widely known for its rich tradition of passion, intellect and innovation, and it has always been a standard-bearer for imaginative & emotive literature.

This week I'm speaking with the Italian author, screenwriter and BAFTA Award nominee, Ilaria Bernardini. One of Italy’s leading contemporary novelists, Ilaria has penned nine novels, one graphic novel, and two collections of short stories, as well as being a screenwriter collaborating with the legendary director Bernardo Bertolucci. Two of her novels, including We Will Be Forest – her most recent book, which we’re discussing today – have been longlisted for the Strega Prize, the most prestigious book award in Italy. 

In today’s episode, Ilaria and I discuss, as always, the four books which have had the biggest influence on her life and creative development, along with her experience writing fiction drawn from her own life, and the process of translating a book from one language to another. The books she chose are eclectic and inspirational so it was a really fun discussion with some great recommendations. 

Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!