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 shape...
Booker-shortlisted writer David Szalay talks to presenter James Crawford on Take Four Books this week about his new novel, Flesh, and the three other works that inspired its creation in some way. In a pared back style, Flesh, follows the life of its protagonist, István, who at fifteen years old has an affair with an older woman, the consequences of which leave a lasting impression on his life. After finishing up in the army, István leaves Hungary and moves to London, where he ends up becoming accustomed to a vast amount of wealth and luxury, but circumstances change yet again, and he returns to the place where it all began, unable to shake off the emotional weight of his experiences. For his three influences David chose: Ultraluminous by Katherine Faw published in 2017; Jacob’s Room by Virginia Woolf from 1922; and Lord Jim, by Joseph Conrad from 1900.The supporting contributor for this episode was the writer and creative writing lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, Andrew Meehan. Producer: Dominic Howell
Editor: Gillian WheelanThis is a BBC AUDIO SCOTLAND production.
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28:46
Eimear McBride
Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks this week to the Irish writer Eimear McBride about her new novel - The City Changes Its Face - and the three other works that have helped to shape it. Eimear's new book takes us to London in the 1990s and draws us into the passionate and intense relationship of Eily and Stephen - two characters who also feature in her previous novel The Lesser Bohemians (2016). Eimear's choices for her episode include: the song lyrics of Scott Walker and specifically the song Sleepwalkers Woman from 1984; Venice Preserved by Thomas Otway from 1682; and The Lover, by Marguerite Duras from 1985.Producer: Dom Howell
Editor: Gillian WheelanThis was a BBC Audio Scotland Production.
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28:45
Tash Aw
Presenter James Crawford speaks to twice-Booker-nominated Chinese-Malaysian author Tash Aw about his latest novel, The South, and the three works that helped shape its creation.Set during a scorching summer on drought-stricken farmland in rural Malaysia, The South follows protagonist Jay in a coming-of-age story about a family navigating a period of profound change. Tash Aw’s chosen influences were Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin (1956), Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov (1897), and The Sea Wall by Marguerite Duras (1952).The supporting contributor was Dr Bea Hitchman, author, and lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Brighton.
Producer: Rachael O’Neill
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.
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28:31
Laurent Binet
Presenter James Crawford speaks with multi-award-winning, Booker-longlisted French author Laurent Binet about his latest novel, Perspectives, and the three other works that influenced its creation.Set in 16th-century Florence, the novel follows an investigation into the mysterious death of a renowned painter, found lying on a church floor with a fatal stab wound to the heart. Above him, the masterpieces he dedicated over a decade to completing. But who is responsible for his murder?Laurent’s influences were: Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (1782); The Story of my Escape from the Prisons of Venice by Giacomo Casanova (1788); and The Florentine Histories by Niccolo Machiavelli (1532).The supporting contributor was poet, translator and lecturer in Creative Writing at Loughborough University, Dr Kerry Featherstone.Producer: Rachael O’Neill
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production
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28:52
Susan Barker
Presenter James Crawford speaks to the writer Susan Barker on Take Four Books this week about her new novel, Old Soul, and the three other works that have helped to shape its creation. Susan's new book, published by Penguin, is made up of seven testimonies that cross centuries and continents, but they have one thing in common - a beguiling woman, who is much older than she looks, and leaves a trail of death and disappearance in her wake. The books Susan chose for her episode were: Under The Skin by Michel Faber (2000); Ghostwritten by David Mitchell (1999); and Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood (1988).The supporting contributor was the writer and Strathclyde University Creative Writing lecturer, Rodge Glass.During the episode, a short clip of the audiobook version of Under The Skin is played. The publisher is Canongate Books Ltd. Producer: Dom Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production
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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