Take Four Books

BBC Radio 4

Presenter James Crawford looks at an author's latest work and delves further into their creative process by learning about the three other texts that have shaped their writing.

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20 episodes
Updated July 26

Episodes20

Newest first

July 26 · 31 min
Christopher Brookmyre
The Scottish writer on his latest crime novel, Quite Ugly One Evening, and its influences.
July 19 · 28 min
Liz Nugent
The Irish writer on her latest novel The Truth About Ruby Cooper and its three influences.
July 12 · 28 min
Elizabeth Strout
The award-winning author on her newest book and its three key literary influences.
June 28 · 28 min
Tahmima Anam
The Bangladeshi-born British writer on her latest novel Uprising and its three influences.
June 21 · 28 min
Maggie O'Farrell
The Irish-British writer on her latest novel, Land, and its three key influences.
June 14 · 32 min
Douglas Stuart
The Booker Prize-winning Scottish author on his novel, John Of John, and its influences.
May 31 · 28 min
Imani Thompson
On her debut novel, Honey, and three literary works that helped shape it.
May 24 · 28 min
Deborah Levy
On her new novel - My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein - and its three key influences.
May 17 · 30 min
Katie Kitamura
On her Booker-shortlisted novel, Audition, and how it connects to three other works.
May 10 · 28 min
Amitav Ghosh
The award-winning novelist on his new book, Ghost Eye, and its key literary influences.
April 26 · 28 min
Gwendoline Riley
The award-winning writer on her new novel, The Palm House, and its three key influences.
April 19 · 28 min
Solvej Balle
The Danish writer on the latest instalment of her On the Calculation of Volume books.
April 12 · 28 min
Jenni Fagan
On her newest novel, The Delusions, and the three literary works that helped shape it.
March 29 · 34 min
Yann Martel
The writer Yann Martel on his new novel, Son of Nobody, and its three literary influences.
March 22 · 28 min
Jan Carson
The Northern Irish writer on her new novel and the three influences behind it.
March 15 · 34 min
Susan Choi
On her Booker-shortlisted novel, Flashlight, and its links to three other literary works.
March 8 · 38 min
Colm Tóibín
On his new short story collection and its connections to three other literary works.
February 22 · 34 min
John Lanchester
James Crawford discusses Look What You Made Me Do and its connections to three other works
February 15 · 28 min
Jennifer Niven
Author Jennifer Niven invites Take Four Books to ‘Meet the Newmans’ in her newest novel.
February 8 · 28 min
Bryan Washington
The American writer speaks about his new novel Palaver and its three literary influences.