Lit with Charles

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!

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Peter Singer, one of the world’s leading moral philosophers, known for his work in building the philosophical foundations of the modern animal rights movement, which he helped develop with his landmark book “Animal Liberation” published in 1975 which was one of the first to highlight hideous conditions of animal suffering and the vacuity of “speciesism”.

He is a prominent advocate of Utilitarianism, and over the years, he’s written about euthanasia, infanticide, and global poverty, amongst many other issues, and his scholarship continues to influence public discourse and ethical policy. If you’re interested in learning more about his philosophy, Peter Singer has just launched his own podcast called “Lives Well Lived” where he interviews guests who have lived lives with extraordinary contributions.

In today’s episode, Peter and I discuss, as always, the four books which have most influenced him as a thinker and a person, as well as the modern animal rights movement, veganism, and his introduction to philosophy.

The 1930s Hollywood star Anna May Wong was a trailblazer in the Golden Age of Hollywood. While navigating the treacherous waters of racial prejudice, she carved a path to international fame, becoming the first Chinese-American bona fide Hollywood movie star.

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with author Katie Gee Salisbury, who’s written a biography of Anna May Wong called Not Your China Doll, published earlier this year to huge acclaim.

In today’s episode, Katie and I discuss, as always, the four books which have most shaped her as a writer, as well as talking about the sparkling life of Anna May Wong, and Katie’s experience writing the biography.

The Caribbean is a region with an incredible history of vibrant cultures blending into each other, which is reflected in so many elements from the food, the local traditions, the music and of course, the literature. Today’s guest hails from the nation of Trinidad and Tobago, and the region has clearly left an indelible mark on her writing, infusing it with the rhythms, flavors, and complexities that define the Caribbean experience.

Based on the new format of the show, Costa Prize winning author Ingrid Persaud will share four books that have left an indelible mark on her life and work. From literary classics to contemporary gems, these books have shaped her perspective, influencing the stories she tells and the voices she amplifies.

In this episode, we also discuss her latest novel, "The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh." Inspired by the true story of the titular Trinidadian gangster from the 1930s to the 1950s, this novel looks at the complex web of relationships surrounding him and the four women who shaped his life. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing society, this novel offers a poignant exploration of love, loss, and redemption, inviting readers to journey through the heartaches and triumphs of its unforgettable characters.

The four books that Ingrid Persaud selected were: 

A House for Mr Biswas, VS Naipaul (1961)

Reading Turgenev, William Trevor (1991)

As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner (1930)

Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison (1977)

If you’d like to get in touch, you can contact me on my Instagram account @litwithcharles and you can also check out my weekly Substack newsletter: https://litwithcharles.substack.com/

Welcome to a special episode that marks a whole year of Lit with Charles. As we wrap up a full year of podcasting, it's time to reflect on the journey we've embarked on together. From the very beginning, the goal was clear – to create a space for the curious souls eager to explore the world of literature, authors, and the intricate process of writing.

In today's episode, we take a trip down memory lane, revisiting some of the most captivating questions and answers that have lingered in my mind. This special highlight reel is divided into two parts, each focusing on a distinct facet of the literary landscape.

In the first half, we delve into "The Author's Process," unraveling the mysteries behind how authors conceive their ideas and bring them to life on the page. What sparks the creative flame? How do they navigate the intricate pathways of their minds to craft compelling narratives?

The second part of our annual highlight shifts its spotlight to "The Life of a Book". Books, beyond their narratives, are extraordinary objects with unique journeys – from creation to consumption. We explore the intricate processes involved in printing, storing, managing, and selling these literary treasures.

Before we embark on this retrospective journey, heartfelt thanks are in order. To the 51 incredible guests who graced this podcast with their wisdom and insights – thank you for sharing your stories and making each conversation enlightening.

So, without further ado, let's relive some of the best answers that unveil the authors' fascinating processes, guiding us through the intricate world of storytelling that we all cherish.

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!

The Chinese Cultural Revolution was launched by Chairman Mao in 1966 and lasted a whole decade until his death. It aimed to purify China of perceived bourgeois elements and reinforce hardline communist ideology. The era left a huge impact on China's socio-political landscape, but despite its seismic impact, it’s not that well understood by many Westerners.

Today, I’m speaking with Tania Branigan. Tania spent 7 years as the Guardian’s China correspondent, and is also the author of a recent non-fiction book called Red Memory, which explores stories that have emerged about the Cultural Revolution and its lingering impact on contemporary China. I read and reviewed it earlier this year, and I was absolutely blown away. 

In this episode, Tania and I go deep into her book, Red Memory, the process she went through in writing and researching the text. For those of you who don’t know all that much about the Cultural Revolution, don’t panic – Tania does an incredible job of covering the basics while also getting into the intricacies of the relevant political history. I thoroughly recommend the book for anyone looking to improve their knowledge of China, especially how this contemporary society is still haunted by many ghosts of the Cultural Revolution.

Tania mentioned Sparks, by Ian Johnson (2023), a work of non-fiction which follows “counter-historians” documenting contemporary China.

Her favourite book that I’d never heard of was The Memory Police, Yōko Ogawa (1994), a dystopian tale in which a totalitarian regime controls collective memory. Also by that author was The Housekeeper and The Professor, by Yōko Ogawa (2003), which follows an ageing mathematician whose memory is limited to 80 minutes.

The best book she has read in the last twelve months was Waiting to be Arrested at Night, by Tahir Hamut Izgil (2023), which is a Uyghur poet’s memoir of China’s genocide of the majority-Muslim population in Xinjiang Province in Northwestern China. This also reminded her of another favourite with similar undertones, The Appointment, by the Romanian author Herta Müller (1997), which follows the life of a young woman living under a communist regime.

The book she would take to a desert island is the collected short stories of Anton Chekhov. On that note, she also mentioned the fantastic book A Swim in The Pond in the Rain by George Saunders (2021), in which the author, a master short story writer, examines four classic Russian short stories, including one by Chekhov.

Finally, a book that changed her mind was Heidi Larson’s Stuck (2020), which explores vaccine rumours, and how best to deal with people who have different opinions on that subject.