Season 1, Episode 4 - Non Fiction with James O'Brien

Welcome to Stig Abell’s Guide to Reading. In this concluding episode of Season 1, Stig is joined by the remarkable actor, writer and director Simon Callow for a riveting discussion about Shakespeare’s works. From the plays - Simon’s choice TITUS ANDRONICUS and Stig’s favourite HAMLET - to the sonnets, the pair discuss the bard’s astonishing writing, recite their favourite sonnets and make their ‘desert island’ picks. The podcast is an accompaniment to Stig's book THINGS I LEARNED ON THE 6.28: A GUIDE TO DAILY READING, published by John Murray Press on 12th November 2020.

Welcome to Stig Abell’s Guide to Reading. In today's episode, Stig chats to historian, author and presenter Suzannah Lipscomb about Historical Fiction. From 14th century France in Maurice Druon's THE IRON KING (Book 1 in The Accursed Kings series) to 20th century India with Rohinton Mistry's A FINE BALANCE and everything in-between, join Stig and Suzannah for a fascinating discussion about the great writers of historical fiction and their favourite books. The podcast is an accompaniment to Stig's book THINGS I LEARNED ON THE 6.28: A GUIDE TO DAILY READING, published by John Murray Press on 12th November 2020.

Welcome to Stig Abell’s Guide to Reading. In this episode, Stig chats to author and journalist Sam Leith about two English Classics: Geoffrey Chaucer's THE CANTERBURY TALES and Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. In addition, they discuss whether so-called 'classics' are actually enjoyable to read, the characters they love to hate, and which of Chaucer's famous pilgrims they'd go for a pint with!The podcast is an accompaniment to Stig's book THINGS I LEARNED ON THE 6.28: A GUIDE TO DAILY READING, published by John Murray Press on 12th November 2020.

Welcome to Stig Abell’s Guide to Reading. This week, Stig is joined by author and poet Hollie McNish to discuss all things Poetry. From HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN POEM by Kate Clanchy to the works of Emily Dickinson, as well as favourite children’s poems, Shakespeare’s plays and the connection between writing poetry and learning the guitar! The podcast is an accompaniment to Stig's book THINGS I LEARNED ON THE 6.28: A GUIDE TO DAILY READING, published by John Murray Press on 12th November 2020.

Welcome to Stig Abell’s Guide to Reading. In this episode James O'Brien, bestselling author of HOW TO BE RIGHT and HOW NOT TO BE WRONG, joins Stig to talk about Non Fiction books. Choosing Anthony Burgess's LITTLE WILSON AND BIG GOD and Rachel Carson's SILENT SPRING, James and Stig also chat about their love of historical fiction and whether books really can change the world. The podcast is an accompaniment to Stig's book THINGS I LEARNED ON THE 6.28: A GUIDE TO DAILY READING, published by John Murray Press on 12th November 2020.

Welcome to Stig Abell’s Guide to Reading. In this episode Stig talks to Kit de Waal, bestselling author of MY NAME IS LEON, about Modern Literary Fiction. Chatting about Donal Ryan’s STRANGE FLOWERS and OFFSHORE by Penelope Fitzgerald, they discuss everything from what ‘literary fiction’ really means, to how important life experience is when becoming a novelist. The podcast is an accompaniment to Stig's book THINGS I LEARNED ON THE 6.28: A GUIDE TO DAILY READING, published by John Murray on 12th November 2020.

Welcome to Stig Abell’s Guide to Reading. In this episode, Stig discusses American Classics with comedian and writer David Baddiel, author of THE DEATH OF ELI GOLD. Join Stig and David as they discuss RABBIT, RUN by John Updike and CANNERY ROW by John Steinbeck, amongst others; find out which character Stig admires most in all of fiction, and what book David considers to be “the greatest novel of the twentieth century”. The podcast is an accompaniment to Stig's book THINGS I LEARNED ON THE 6.28: A GUIDE TO DAILY READING, published by John Murray on 12th November 2020.

Welcome to Stig Abell’s Guide to Reading. In this episode Stig is joined by Lucy Foley, bestselling author of THE HUNTING PARTY and THE GUEST LIST, for a lively discussion about Crime books - from AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie and the SHERLOCK HOLMES series by Arthur Conan Doyle, to du Maurier’s REBECCA and Truman Capote’s IN COLD BLOOD. The podcast is an accompaniment to Stig's book THINGS I LEARNED ON THE 6.28: A GUIDE TO DAILY READING, published by John Murray on 12th November 2020.

Introducing a brand new podcast from Stig Abell, speaking to authors about their favourite books, and trying to get to the bottom of what makes them so good. Coming 29th October 2020.