Writers and Company from CBC Radio

From the Writers & Company archives, Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. A look back at the inspiring writer, thinker and politician -- and the father of the African novel in English. Eleanor spoke with the author of "Things Fall Apart" in 1994.

A master of the short story and the novel, Irish writer William Trevor. In this interview from 1994, Eleanor speaks with the celebrated author about his autobiographical collection, "Excursions in the Real World."

In celebration of Alice Munro's 85th birthday, a rare conversation with Canada’s first winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. In this interview from 2004, Eleanor speaks with Munro about her Giller Prize-winning collection of short stories, "Runaway."

A look back at Eleanor's conversation with English writer Jenny Diski in 2005. The author of "Skating to Antarctica" and "Stranger on a Train" died in April at the age of 68.

This week - the art of the memoir. What to tell? Who to implicate? And how to deal with the consequences. Eleanor speaks with American memoir writers Vivian Gornick and Kathryn Harrison, and England's Ferdinand Mount.

Eleanor speaks with American novelist Don DeLillo. The award-winning author of 'White Noise,' 'Underworld' and 'Libra' has a new book called 'Zero K.' Set in a secret cryonic freezing facility, the novel explores themes of science, religion and mortality.

Eleanor Wachtel speaks with English novelist Jonathan Lee about his new book, 'High Dive.' The novel reimagines the 1984 assassination attempt of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, known as "the Brighton bombing."

Eleanor speaks with England's Julian Barnes on stage at the Bluma Appel Salon in Toronto. The Booker prize-winning novelist, essayist and art critic talks about his latest book, 'The Noise of Time' - about beloved Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich.

Eleanor speaks with the Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Tracy K. Smith about her memoir, 'Ordinary Light' - named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times. Tracy K. talks to Eleanor about race, faith, and the elegiac power of poetry.

Eleanor Wachtel speaks with Canadian poet, essayist, Greek and Latin scholar, and librettist, Anne Carson - on stage at Montreal's Blue Metropolis Festival.

From Cologne, the novelist, essayist and Islam scholar, Navid Kermani - one of Germany's most important writers and thinkers. He talks to Eleanor about Islam, current political and cultural issues in Germany, and his passion for the music of Neil Young.

From Berlin, more in the series 'At the Centre of Europe: A Changing Germany' with award-winning comic book artist Reinhard Kleist. Known for his graphic biographies, Kleist talks to Eleanor about tackling complex characters through striking artistry.

American novelist and poet Paul Beatty speaks with Eleanor about his new book, 'The Sellout.' A "cheerfully outrageous" satire, the book has garnered rave reviews and was included on many best of the year lists, including The New York Times' Top Ten.

From the archives, Eleanor speaks with Martha Gellhorn, the extraordinary American correspondent during war and peace, in 1992. And a look back at Canadian novelist and satirist, Mordecai Richler, around the time of his 60th birthday.

From the archives, Eleanor speaks with the late English novelist Beryl Bainbridge in 1994. The master of black comedy turned a corner in the early ‘90s with her novel, 'The Birthday Boys'—about the Scott expedition to Antarctica.