Who gets to decide what a 'classic' is? And how and why do some books get reintroduced to us years after they were first published? This month we're continuing a conversation we started four years ago with Jennifer Hodgson and Nell Dunn about literary rediscoveries, with our guest, author and translator Lauren Elkin. Lauren joined us to talk about her translation of The Inseparables, a newly discovered novel by the influential philosopher and novelist Simone de Beavouir. Just published in English by Vintage, it tells the story of the intense friendship between two schoolgirls in turn of the century Paris. Listen in for some fascinating insight into the translation process and Simone de Beauvoir's life, plus all the usual recommendations.

Recommendations on the theme, Rediscovery:

Octavia: Nevada by Imogen Binnie

Carrie: Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks

General Recommendations:

Octavia: Home is Where We Start From: Essays by a Psychoanalyst by D. W. Winnicott

Lauren: Translating Myself and Others by Jhumpa Lahiri

Carrie: The Promise by Damon Galgut

Find a list of all recommended books at: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/may-2022-rediscovery-with-lauren-elkin

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This episode is sponsored by Picador: https://www.panmacmillan.com/picador