This week, Mary Beard grapples with a noisy new version of Euripides at the National Theatre; and Norma Clarke on the mysterious world of Helen DeWitt's new novel.

'Bacchae', by Nima Taleghani, after Euripedes, Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, London, until November 1

'Your Name Here', by Helen DeWitt and Ilya Gridneff

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Tim Lake explains why Bertie Wooster is not half the dimwit we think he is; and fiction editor Toby Lichtig introduces the novels to look out for this autumn.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Nicola Shulman is entranced by the life of a naturalist; and Larry Wolff enjoys a night at the opera - with added superheroes.

'A year with Gilbert White: The first great nature writer', by Jenny Uglow

'The amazing adventures of Kavalier & Clay', by Mason Bates and Gene Scheer, based on the book by Michael Chabon, Metropolitan Opera, New York, until October 11

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Richard Sennett delivers a powerful warning to universities to defend their freedom; and Helena Kelly on the revolutionary world that shaped Jane Austen.

'The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influence and Inspiration Behind the Novels', by Helena Kelly

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, AE Stallings immerses herself in Daniel Mendelsohn's new translation of Homer's Odyssey; and Dinah Birch is intrigued by an ambitious novel twenty years in the making. 

'The Odyssey', by Homer, translated by Daniel Mendelsohn 

'The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny', by Kiran Desai

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, James Shapiro celebrates New York's love affair with Shakespeare; Mark Nayler goes on the hunt for monsters; and Lily Herd introduces this issue's In Brief pages. 

'Monsterland: A journey around the world’s dark imagination', by Nicholas Jubber

'The Perilous Deep: A supernatural history of the Atlantic', by Karl Bell

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Professor Jonathan Bate on a tiny Elizabethan portrait with an illuminating history; and novelist Gwendoline Riley assesses the mysterious life and work of Dame Muriel Spark.

'Electric Spark: The enigma of Muriel Spark', by Frances Wilson

'The Letters of Muriel Spark – Volume 1: 1944–1963', edited by Dan Gunn

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, the winner of this year's TLS Ackerley Prize, Jeff Young, discusses his spellbinding memoir; and Toby Lichtig talks to the Australian novelist Michelle de Kretser at this year's Hay Festival.

'Wild Twin', by Jeff Young

'Theory & Practice', by Michelle de Kretser

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, George Berridge instructs Lucy and Alex on the noble art of oenophilia; and Lucy takes in a trio of musicals.

'Who's Afraid of Romanée-Conti: A shortcut to drinking great wines', by Dan Keeling

'One Thousand Vines: A new way to understand wine', by Pascaline Peltier

'Good Night, Oscar', by Doug Wright, Barbican, until September 21

'Top Hat', by Irving Berlin, Chichester Festival Theatre, until September 6

'Brigadoon', by Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe, adapted by Rona Munro, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, until September 20

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Clark celebrates the life and work of Edna O'Brien with filmmaker Sinéad O'Shea and novelists Eimear McBride and Jan Carson at this year's Belfast Book Festival.

'Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien Story', by Sinéad O'Shea

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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