Books and Authors

Mariella Frostrup talks to comedian Russell Kane who looks at the nature of humour in his first novel The Humorist. Senior curator Jamie Andrews talks about the British Library's new exhibition Writing Britain - Wastelands to Wonderlands. And Mariella discusses updating the classics with debut novelist Francesca Segal and Professor of Literature at York University John Bowen.

Mariella talks to award-winning writer Timothy Mo about his new book Pure. Writers Anna Funder and Philip Sington tell how they were inspired by secret Stasi files in the old East Germany. And controversy at this year's 41st London Book Fair.

Mariella talks to novelist Elif Shafak about her latest book highlighting the issue of honour killings in the Kurdish Turkish community across two continents. The programme also looks at novels for children of eight to twelve years. Plus more of the funny things people say in bookshops. This time round, book buyers get their revenge.

Mariella Frostrup meets Ronald Harwood to talk about his five of the best books, while Janice Galloway and Jenny Colgan cater for those with a literary sweet tooth. Plus Michael Carlson on the enduring appeal of the baseball novel.

Comedian Isy Suttie and opera singer and broadcaster Beverley Humphreys share their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert: 'The Comfort of Strangers' by Ian McEwan, ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and ‘Flowers for Algernon’ by Daniel Keyes.

Mariella Frostrup talks to Marilynne Robinson about her new collection of essays, "When I Was A Child I Read Books", about faith, fiction and what it means to be a human being. Mature novelists Charlotte Rogan and Paul Torday discuss the pros and cons of debuting a first novel later in life. Writer and bookseller Jen Campbell shares her humorous collection of customers' extraordinary requests - a unique and affectionate insight into the world of bookselling and bookshops.

Writer Grace Dent and actress Frances Barber talk to presenter Harriett Gilbert about the books they most love, in an edition recorded in front of an audience at R4's More Than Words Listening Festival in Bristol: 'Love in a Cold Climate' by Nancy Mitford, 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseini and 'Cat's Eye' by Margaret Atwood.

Mariella Frostrup looks at the career and life of Dodie Smith, the author best known for her hugely popular children's story, The 101 Dalmatians, and I Capture the Castle. Sofka Zinovieff talks about her latest novel, The House on Paradise Street and Sam Mills and Rodge Glass discuss basing books around real living people.

Astronomer and Sky at Night presenter Chris Lintott and the Telegraph's Chief music critic Neil McCormick discuss their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert: 'Last and First Men' by Olaf Stapledon, 'A Patchwork Planet' by Anne Tyler and 'White' by Marie Darrieussecq.

Mariella Frostrup talks to Marina Lewycka about her latest book, Various Pets Alive and Dead. We'll be discussing why the publishing industry has become so enamoured by the next big author and what is happening to the more established, but not so prominent career novelists with Matt Thorne, Alexandra Pringle and Charlie Williams. And Guy Fraser Sampson talks to Mariella about Mapp and Lucia and his new novel Lucia on Holiday.

Harriett Gilbert invites Deborah Meaden from Dragons' Den, and folk-singer and songwriter Eliza Carthy to discuss their favourite books: 'Everything is Illuminated' by Jonathan Safran Foer, 'The Instance of the Fingerpost' by Iain Pears and 'The Emperor's Babe' by Bernardine Evaristo.

Art critic Brian Sewell and the poet Wendy Cope discuss favourite books with Harriett Gilbert: "Evening in the Palace of Reason" by James Gaines, "From the City, From The Plough" by Alexander Baron and "The Moving Toyshop" by Edmund Crispin.

Mariella Frostrup presents news and features from the world of books. John Lanchester discusses his latest book Capital.

Harriett Gilbert and her guests, the historian Gus Casely-Hayford and educationalist Martin Stephen, consider a clutch of favourite reads. 'The Memory of Love' by Aminatta Forna, 'Pavel and I' by Dan Vyleta and a selection of Thomas Hardy's verse.

Aminatta Forna explores the delights and challenges of the short story. Author and creative writing Tessa Hadley discusses the history and development of the short story, from Edgar Allan Poe, through Chekhov, Mansfield and Monroe, and short story writers Helen Simpson and Jon McGregor, along with Dept. Editor of Granta Magazine Ellah Allfrey discuss what makes a great short story.