The Essay Episodes Available now
Sarah Churchwell—Explaining the Explicit
3/5 Sarah Churchwell examines the tradition of depicting sex in popular fiction.
David Bellos—Explaining the Explicit
2/5 Writer and academic David Bellos on why translating sex in literature is so difficult.
Julian Barnes—Explaining the Explicit
1/5 Writer Julian Barnes asks 'Is writing about sex the same as writing about anything?'.
Owen Sheers in Poland—Winterwalks
5/5 Owen Sheers visits a forest in Poland, where sights and sounds are alluring and timeless.
Erica Wagner—Winterwalks
4/5 Erica Wagner recalls a midnight journey, with a hill, a castle and biting winds.
Scarlett Thomas—Winterwalks
3/5 Scarlett Thomas describes fruits and vegetables on a walk across a winter landscape.
Christopher Hope in Languedoc—Winterwalks
2/5 Writer Christopher Hope discusses the cold winds of Languedoc.
Deborah Levy on Hampstead Heath—Winterwalks
1/5 Writer Deborah Levy describes a walk on London's Hampstead Heath under layers of snow.
Patti Smith's Shirt—Listener, They Wore It
5/5 Susanna Frankel recalls a brilliant white shirt on the cover of an LP by Patti Smith.
Alec Leamas's coat (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold)—Listener, They Wore It
4/5 Antonia Quirke on the coat worn by Richard Burton in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
