Take Four Books
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Podcast Overview
<p>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.</p>
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Publishing Since
11/24/2024
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Recent Episodes
June 28, 2026
Tahmima Anam
<p>The Bangladeshi-born British writer, Tahmima Anam, speaks to Take Four Books about her latest novel, Uprising, and together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connections to three other works of fiction. Set on a fictional, sinking island, Uprising, is told from the perspective of a group of children who witness their mothers living lives of cruelty and servitude. </p><p>Tahmima Anam is a multi-award-winning writer and journalist. In 2013 she was named as one of the 'Best Young British Novelists' by Granta. She also holds a PHD in anthropology from Harvard University.</p><p>For her three influences, Tahmima chose: The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka, from 2012; Sultana’s Dream by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain from 1905; and Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, also from 2012.</p><p>This episode was recorded at the Hay Festival. </p><p>Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.</p>
June 21, 2026
Maggie O'Farrell
<p>The bestselling author of Hamnet returns with her tenth novel - Land - which is a soaring history set in Ireland in the years before and after the Great Famine. Maggie has sold more than eight million books worldwide and is translated into 44 different languages. She won the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2020.</p><p>For her three influences Maggie chose: Joseph O’Connor’s Star of the Sea from 2002; Marie Heaney’s Over Nine Waves from 1994, which is a retelling of many of the Irish myths; and the non-fiction book, Map Of A Nation, by Rachel Hewitt from 2010.</p><p>Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.</p>
June 14, 2026
Douglas Stuart
<p>The Booker Prize-winning Scottish author, Douglas Stuart, speaks to Take Four Books about his latest novel, John Of John, and, together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connections to three other works of fiction.</p><p>John Of John follows the character of John-Calum Macleod who, when his art school education comes to an end, catches the ferry home to the island of Harris to find that not much has changed except for him. In the windswept croft where he grew up, Cal resumes his old life, caught between the two poles of his childhood: his father John, a sheep farmer, weaver, and pillar of their local Presbyterian church, and his Glaswegian grandmother Ella, who has kept a faltering peace with her son-in-law for decades.</p><p>For his three influences Douglas chose: The Lost Language of Cranes, by David Leavitt from 1986; Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson, from 2004; and John McGahern’s Amongst Women, from 1990.</p><p>This episode was recorded at the Hay Festival 2026.</p><p>Producer: Dominic Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was an BBC Audio Scotland production.</p>
64 total episodes available
Recent guests on Take Four Books
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Rob Doyle
Guest
Andrew Michael Hurley
Guest
Salman Rushdie
Guest
Jo Nesbø
Guest
Alexander McCall Smith
Guest
Karl Ove Knausgaard
Guest
Olga Ravn
Guest
Katherine Rundell
Guest
Chris Kraus
Guest
Philippa Gregory
Guest
John Banville
Guest
William Boyd
Guest
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Take Four Books?
<p>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.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 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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