This week, we meditate on childhood memories with TLS Ackerley Prize-winner Geoff Dyer; and Ben Street on the tricky business of artists at the cinema.

'Homework', by Geoff Dyer

'The Hollywood History of Art', by Christopher Frayling

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Claire Harman explores the self-possession and vigour of the youngest of the Brontë clan; and Lily Herd on musical brothers at war in a new play.

'This Dark Night: The life of Emily Brontë', by Deborah Lutz

'Hit Machine', by Jonathan Caren, Soho Theatre, London, until August 15

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Carrie Cracknell joins us to talk about the delights and challenges of directing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia; and Hirsh Sawhney on the empathetic brilliance of Sigrid Nunez.

'Arcadia', by Tom Stoppard, Duke of York's Theatre, London, until September 12 2026

'It Will Come Back to You', by Sigrid Nunez

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Scarlett Baron puzzles over an attempt to cut Joyce down to size; and Ian Sansom on the sobering realities of balancing the books if you want to be an artist.

'A Shorter Ulysses', by James Joyce and Anthony Burgess

'Making Art and Making a Living: Adventures in funding a creative life', by Mason Currey

'How to Enter the Art World: After a late start, a first career, illness, raising children, a crisis of confidence/leaving it in disgust ...', by Hettie Judah

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Toby Lichtig joins us to mull over what TLS writers are reading this summer; and Hannah Lowe reads a new poem with a botanical theme.

'Jamaican Forget-Me-Not', by Hannah Lowe

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, we continue to enjoy festival season as we listen to Toby Lichtig's conversation with Nigel Planer live from the Hay Festival.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, we join Toby live from the Hay Festival where he talks to Colm Tóibín where they discuss exile and return, secrets and evasion, the avoidance of drama, and how (not) to end a story.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, we join Toby live from the European Writer's Festival where he spoke to novelists Beatriz Serrano and Sulaiman Addonia.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, join us live from Hay Festival.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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May has flown by — here's a listen back at some of the conversations we've had this month on The TLS Podcast.

We hear from Merlin Holland on the afterlife of his grandfather Oscar Wilde, David Horspool on the luscious world of the lido, Samantha Ellis on Charlotte Brontë's relationship with material reality, and Dinah Birch finds solace in letters and diaries from the past.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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