BBC - Books

Coming Soon

Anne Sebba—Bookclub
On her biography That Woman: The life of Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor.
Tomorrow00:15
BBC Radio 4
John Donne: Super-Infinite and Gillian Clarke: A Poet's Year—Poetry Extra
Daljit Nagra selects two highlights from the BBC's poetry archive.
Tomorrow07:00
BBC Radio 4 Extra
Lazy Days—Words and Music
An evocation of summer afternoons by the river, picnics, passing time and lethargy.
Tomorrow19:45
BBC Radio 3
Joanne Harris and Islam Issa—A Good Read
The writer and the academic and broadcaster talk about favourite books.
Monday15:00
BBC Radio 4
Mike Brearley and Julie Welch—A Good Read
Mike Brearley and Julie Welch join Sue MacGregor to talk favourite books.
Tuesday10:00
BBC Radio 4 Extra
JRR Tolkien—The Write Stuff, Series 5
Sebastian Faulks, John Walsh, Harry Ritchie and Nigel Williams on the literary quiz.
Wednesday14:00
BBC Radio 4 Extra

Available Now

The Ethics of Knowledge—Free Thinking
Matthew Sweet and guests discuss the ethics of knowledge.
BBC Radio 4
Daisy Dunn and Andrew Hunter Murray—A Good Read
The classicist and the author talk about books they love with presenter Harriett Gilbert.
BBC Radio 4
The Echo Chamber - Sean Borodale—Poetry Extra
Daljit Nagra selects another highlight from the BBC's poetry archive - with Sean Borodale.
BBC Radio 4 Extra
Anne Sebba—Bookclub
On her biography That Woman: The life of Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor.
BBC Radio 4
Bucket and Spade—Words and Music
An evocation of the beach, summer, sand and sea in readings and music.
BBC Radio 3
Rachel Kushner: The Mars Room—World Book Club
Harriett Gilbert talks with Rachel Kusher about The Mars Room.
BBC World Service
Trade and traffic—Free Thinking
Jeremy Hunt, Nandini Das, Rana Mitter, Soumaya Keynes & Lauren Working join Anne McElvoy
BBC Radio 4
Celebrating Brian Patten—Poetry Please
Roger McGough, Lemn Sissay and others celebrate Brian Patten.
BBC Radio 4
Fairy Tales—Word of Mouth
Michael Rosen and Jamie Tehrani on how fairy tales travel the world, changing as they go.
BBC Radio 4
Philippa Perry and Stuart Maconie—A Good Read
Guests talk to Harriett Gilbert about books they love and loath, at the Hay Festival 2026.
BBC Radio 4
Poetry to keep you afloat—The Verb
Poetry to help navigate storms, rivers and seas with body and mind.
BBC Radio 4
The Path and the Poem: Frank O'Hara & Terminates Here: Endings—Poetry Extra
Daljit Nagra selects two short highlights from the BBC's poetry archive.
BBC Radio 4 Extra

More from Books

500 Words 2019
Everything you need to know about this year's story-writing competition for kids.
BBC National Short Story Award 2019
Judges for the competition are announced as submissions open.
Neil Gaiman on science fiction
The author of the Sandman comics shares the sci-fi novels that inspired him.
Lenny Henry's guide to graphic novels
The actor compiled a list of his favourite comics during the recording of Anansi Boys.
Are you magic or muggle-born?
Test your knowledge of the world of Harry Potter with our ultimate quiz.
Are you a Jane Austen superfan?
Quiz time: Test your Austen knowledge to see if you qualify.