New Generation Thinkers

Strindberg and 'the Woman Question'

Leah Broad considers 'the woman question' in 19th-century Scandinavian countries.

• 15 mins

New Generation Thinkers

The Rise and Fall of the Hairdresser

New Generation Thinker Seán Williams on the depiction of hairdressers in prints and prose

• 15 mins

Brick, Stone, Glass, Steel

288a Main Road

Novelist Mark Haddon reflects on the house in Northamptonshire that was his childhood home

• 15 mins

Brick, Stone, Glass, Steel

Impington College, Cambridge

Painter Humphrey Ocean introduces Impington College, built by architect Walter Gropius.

• 15 mins

Brick, Stone, Glass, Steel

Chesterfield's Crooked Spire, Derbyshire

Poet Helen explains why Chesterfield's Crooked Spire Church has inspired her.

• 15 mins

Brick, Stone, Glass, Steel

Queensferry Crossing, Scotland

Dr Gavin Francis on the largest balanced cantilever bridge ever to be built.

• 15 mins

Brick, Stone, Glass, Steel

Novelist Kit de Waal reflects on the architecture of the prison where she worked.

Novelist Kit de Waal reflects on the architecture of the prison where she once worked.

• 15 mins

All My Presidents

Ike and JFK

Michael Goldfarb recalls his family's encounters with Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy.

• 15 mins

All My Presidents

The Evil that Men Do Lives After

Michael Goldfarb recalls the lasting memories he has of American president Richard Nixon.

• 15 mins

All My Presidents

The Lucky and the Luckless - Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter

Michael Goldfarb tells the story of American presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.

• 15 mins

All My Presidents

Talkin' 'bout My Generation - Bill Clinton and George W Bush

Michael Goldfarb discusses American presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush.

• 15 mins

All My Presidents

The Bully Pulpit

Speeches by Presidents Eisenhower, Carter and Obama that have shaped modern US history.

• 15 mins

The Book that Changed Me

David Simon

Creator of the TV series The Wire David Simon on the book Let us Now Praise Famous Men.

• 15 mins

The Book that Changed Me

Pauline Black

Singer Pauline Black discusses Harper Lee's book To Kill a Mockingbird.

• 15 mins

The Book that Changed Me

Ben Anderson

Journalist Ben Anderson explains how The Autobiography of Malcolm X inspired him.

• 15 mins

The Book that Changed Me

Tacita Dean

Artist Tacita Dean on how Marguerite Yourcenar's book Fires changed her life and art.

• 15 mins

The Book that Changed Me

Sir Richard Eyre

Director Sir Richard Eyre on how he was inspired by Angus Calder's book The People's War.

• 15 mins

Letters to Writers

Dear Geoffrey Chaucer...

Novelist Ian Sansom fires off a letter to Geoffrey Chaucer...

• 15 mins

Letters to Writers

Dear Jonathan Swift...

Ian Sansom writes an imaginary letter to Jonathan Swift and interrogates him about his art

• 15 mins

Letters to Writers

Dear George Eliot...

Novelist Ian Sansom pens a missive to George Eliot...

• 15 mins

Letters to Writers

Dear Virginia Woolf...

A letter of apology to Virginia Woolf from novelist Ian Sansom.

• 15 mins

Letters to Writers

Dear Agatha Christie...

Novelist Ian Sansom has a theory to put to the Queen of Crime.

• 15 mins

The Mabinogion Revisited

An Introduction to the Mabinogion

Professor Sioned Davies introduces the early medieval Welsh tales of the Mabinogion.

• 15 mins

The Mabinogion Revisited

James Hawes

Author James Hawes discusses what the Mabinogion can teach us about storytelling.

• 15 mins

The Mabinogion Revisited

Gwyneth Lewis on the Tale of Blodeuwedd

Gwyneth Lewis reflects on the tale of Blodeuwedd: a woman conjured entirely of flowers.

• 15 mins

The Mabinogion Revisited

Jon Gower on the Role of Nature

What the Mabinogion stories can teach us about the role of nature in the Celtic mind.

• 15 mins

The Mabinogion Revisited

Horatio Clare on Lludd and Llefelys

Horatio Clare discusses the 12th-century tale of Lludd and Llefelys from the Mabinogion.

• 15 mins

Between the Essays

Prelude

Sophie Townsend explores what beginnings might be found when everything has ended.

• 15 mins

Between the Essays

Fugue

Michael Umney with a poetic exploration of the countryside, farming and false nostalgia.

• 15 mins

Between the Essays

Menuet

A musical radio piece about the empty space between people who were once very close.

• 15 mins