Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 9 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

Close Readings

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by London Review of Books

4.4(57 reviews)

221 episodes

Updated Daily

Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇬🇧

Podcast Authority

Beta

GoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more

Quality81

Social0

YouTube0

Engagement98

Learn more

Podcast Overview

Close Readings is a multi-series podcast from the London Review of Books. Two contributors explore areas of literature through a selection of key works, providing an introductory grounding like no other. Listen to some episodes for free here, and extracts from our ongoing subscriber-only series. How To Subscribe In Apple Podcasts, click 'subscribe' at the top of this podcast feed to unlock the full episodes. Or for other podcast apps, sign up here: https://lrb.me/closereadings RUNNING IN 2026 'Who's afraid of realism?' with James Wood and guests 'Nature in Crisis' with Meehan Crist and Peter Godfrey-Smith 'Narrative Poems' with Seamus Perry and Mark Ford 'London Revisited' with Rosemary Hill and guests Bonus Series: 'The Man Behind the Curtain' with Tom McCarthy and Thomas Jones ALSO INCLUDED IN THE CLOSE READINGS SUBSCRIPTION: 'Conversations in Philosophy' with Jonathan Rée and James Wood 'Fiction and the Fantastic' with Marina Warner, Anna Della Subin, Adam Thirlwell and Chloe Aridjis 'Love and Death' with Seamus Perry and Mark Ford 'Novel Approaches' with Clare Bucknell, Thomas Jones and other guests 'Among the Ancients' with Emily Wilson and Thomas Jones 'Medieval Beginnings' with Irina Dumitrescu and Mary Wellesley 'The Long and Short' with Mark Ford and Seamus Perry 'Modern-ish Poets: Series 1' with Mark Ford and Seamus Perry 'Among the Ancients II' with Emily Wilson and Thomas Jones 'On Satire' with Colin Burrow and Clare Bucknell 'Human Conditions' with Adam Shatz, Judith Butler, Pankaj Mishra and Brent Hayes Edwards 'Political Poems' with Mark Ford and Seamus Perry 'Medieval LOLs' with Irina Dumitrescu and Mary Wellesley Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk

Language

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Publishing Since

10/1/2022

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🇺🇸 Charts #3

Outreach generated

Apple 142

Spotify 827

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Podcast Authority

Beta

GoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more

Quality81

Social0

YouTube0

Engagement98

Learn more

Excellent Areas

Good Performance

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excellent

Publishing Consistency

Every 6 days

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6.5/10

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Recent Episodes

July 13, 2026

London Revisited: The Road to Civil War

Host Rosemary and guest Vanessa Harding explore how London's early 17th-century promise devolved into civil war, revealing the city's pivotal role in the conflict.

July 5, 2026

Narrative Poems: ‘The Ruined Cottage’ and ‘Michael’ by William Wordsworth

Seamus Perry and Mark Ford explore William Wordsworth's 'The Ruined Cottage' and 'Michael,' revealing how these poems capture the disintegration of ordinary lives through everyday language.

June 28, 2026

Nature in Crisis: ‘Braiding Sweetgrass’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Host Meehan and guest Peter explore Robin Wall Kimmerer's 'Braiding Sweetgrass,' examining its blend of Indigenous knowledge and science for environmental flourishing.

221 total episodes available with 22 transcripts

Recent guests on Close Readings

Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.

Vanessa Harding

Guest

Miranda Seymour

Guest

Andrew O’Hagan

Guest

See every guest on Close Readings

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Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

What is Close Readings?: Close Readings is a multi-series podcast from the London Review of Books. Two contributors explore areas of literature through a selection of key works, providing an introductory grounding like no other. Listen to some episodes for free here, and extracts from our ongoing subscriber-only series.

How To Subscribe

In Apple Podcasts, click 'subscribe' at the top of this podcast feed to unlock the full episodes.

Or for other podcast apps, sign up here: https://lrb.me/closereadings

RUNNING IN 2026

'Who's afraid of realism?' with James Wood and guests

'Nature in Crisis' with Meehan Crist and Peter Godfrey-Smith

'Narrative Poems' with Seamus Perry and Mark Ford

'London Revisited' with Rosemary Hill and guests

Bonus Series: 'The Man Behind the Curtain' with Tom McCarthy and Thomas Jones

ALSO INCLUDED IN THE CLOSE READINGS SUBSCRIPTION:

'Conversations in Philosophy' with Jonathan Rée and James Wood

'Fiction and the Fantastic' with Marina Warner, Anna Della Subin, Adam Thirlwell and Chloe Aridjis

'Love and Death' with Seamus Perry and Mark Ford

'Novel Approaches' with Clare Bucknell, Thomas Jones and other guests

'Among the Ancients' with Emily Wilson and Thomas Jones

'Medieval Beginnings' with Irina Dumitrescu and Mary Wellesley

'The Long and Short' with Mark Ford and Seamus Perry

'Modern-ish Poets: Series 1' with Mark Ford and Seamus Perry

'Among the Ancients II' with Emily Wilson and Thomas Jones

'On Satire' with Colin Burrow and Clare Bucknell

'Human Conditions' with Adam Shatz, Judith Butler, Pankaj Mishra and Brent Hayes Edwards

'Political Poems' with Mark Ford and Seamus Perry

'Medieval LOLs' with Irina Dumitrescu and Mary Wellesley

Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 9 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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