Books

Celebrating the written word
Coming Soon
Yasmin Khan & David Mitchell—A Good Read
Yasmin Khan and David Mitchell talk good books with Harriett Gilbert.
Tomorrow10:00BBC Radio 4 ExtraWords to Love the Living World—Word of Mouth
Michael Rosen and Ella Frances Sanders on her dictionary of language, landscape and life.
Thursday15:30BBC Radio 4![]()
Free Thinking at the Hay Festival: Responsibility—Free Thinking
Baroness Hale, Philippa Perry, Guto Harri and Simon Critchley join Shahidha Bari at Hay.
Friday21:00BBC Radio 4![]()
The Ballad of Eliza Showell—Poetry Extra
Daljit Nagra selects another highlight from the BBC's poetry archive - with Liz Berry.
Next Sunday07:00BBC Radio 4 Extra![]()
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Marilyn Monroe centenary: What is beauty?—Words and Music
Ralf Little and Susannah Fielding with readings on the subject of beauty.
Next Sunday19:45BBC Radio 3![]()
Available Now
Dark nights of the Soul, Brian Bilston, JH Prynne, Daljit Nagra, William Blake and Martha Sprackland—The Verb
Ian McMillan, Brian Bilston, Daljit Nagra, William Blake, JH Prynne and Martha Sprackland.
BBC Radio 4Conversations on a Bench - Ilford—Poetry Extra
Daljit Nagra finds a highlight from the BBC's poetry archive featuring a bench in Ilford.
BBC Radio 4 ExtraThinking with Food—Free Thinking
Felicity Cloake, John Lanchester, Prof Barry Smith, Suki Finn and Samantha Ellis.
BBC Radio 4The World of Words: editing, typography and print—Word of Mouth
Michael Rosen finds out about fascinating literary errors from editor Rebecca Lee.
BBC Radio 4Letters to a Young Poet and Super-Infinite—Poetry Extra
Daljit Nagra selects two highlights from the BBC's poetry archive.
BBC Radio 4 ExtraWildflowers and weeds—Words and Music
From the beloved bluebell to the stinging nettle: prose poetry and music about nature.
BBC Radio 3Technologies of the Self—Free Thinking
From journaling to prayer: Shahidha Bari on the history and politics of self improvement
BBC Radio 4Oracy: We Need to Talk—Word of Mouth
Michael Rosen talks to Amy Gaunt about how children are learning oracy, also known as talk
BBC Radio 4Stories In Verse - Robert Stephens reads Browning and Longfellow—Poetry Extra
Daljit Nagra selects another highlight from the World Service poetry archive. From 1993.
BBC Radio 4 ExtraThe middle—Free Thinking
Middle - England, ground, child, age, pig in... Anne McElvoy hosts a middling discussion.
BBC Radio 4Michael Rosen and Dara Ó Briain talk about time—Word of Mouth
Michael Rosen in conversation with Dara Ó Briain on how we talk about and understand time.
BBC Radio 4Attenborough at 100: a World of Animals—Words and Music
Readings by Hugh Bonneville, Anne-Marie Duff and excerpts from David Attenborough's memoir
BBC Radio 3
More from Books
500 Words 2019
Everything you need to know about this year's story-writing competition for kids.
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BBC National Short Story Award 2019
Judges for the competition are announced as submissions open.
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Neil Gaiman on science fiction
The author of the Sandman comics shares the sci-fi novels that inspired him.
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Lenny Henry's guide to graphic novels
The actor compiled a list of his favourite comics during the recording of Anansi Boys.
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Are you magic or muggle-born?
Test your knowledge of the world of Harry Potter with our ultimate quiz.
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Are you a Jane Austen superfan?
Quiz time: Test your Austen knowledge to see if you qualify.
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