The TLS Podcast

This week, Emily Herring explains why we all need to take it a bit easier; and Ana Alicia Garza on the novelist whose ancestor inspired a Victorian classic.'In Defence of Leisure: Experiments in living with Marion Milner', by Akshi Singh'The Brain at Rest: Why doing nothing can change your life', by Joseph JebelliOliver Twist & Me: The true story of Dickens's best-loved novel', by Nicholas Blincoe

This week, John Banville considers the work of a formidable Irish writer; and Fiona Stafford on meetings with remarkable trees.'An Arrow in Flight', by Mary Lavin, selected by Colm Tóibín'The Genius of Trees: How trees mastered the elements and shaped the world', by Harriet RixThe Great Tree Story: How forests have shaped our world', by Levison WoodProduced by Charlotte Pardy

This week, Julian Evans on two books exploring the link between food and war in Ukraine; and Lily Herd introduces this issue's In Brief reviews.'Strong Roots: A Ukrainian family story, interrupted', by Olia Hercules'Bread and War: A Ukrainian story of food, bravery and hope', by Felicity SpectorIn Brief: 'Postcards, translators and Esperanto pioneers', by Guilherme Fians, Bernhard Struck and Claire Taylor; 'Rapture of the deep', by Robert Irwin, completed by Andrew Crumey; 'Here comes the sun', by Bill McKibben; 'Queens at war', by Alison Weir; 'Interrupted journeys', by Adrian Potter; 'Literature and epistemic injustice', by Sarah Colvin; 'Invading the American canon', by Muireann Maguire; 'Nabokov and the Russian diaspora', by Bryan KaretnykProduced by Charlotte Pardy

Here is the interview with Michael Morpurgo in full.Produced by Charlotte Pardu

This week, an interview with the inspirational Michael Morpurgo; and David Horspool discusses the Second World War with Tim Bouverie, the winner of this year's Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize.'The Line to Legend Land', with an introduction by Michael Morpurgo'Black Beauty: A retelling', by Michael Morpurgo'Allies at war: The politics of defeating Hitler', by Tim BouverieProduced by Charlotte Pardy

This week, the extraordinary stories of two pioneering women: Francesca Wade on Rhoda Power, and Sarah Lonsdale on Clemence Dane.'In the Storm: Caught in the chaos of the Russian revolution 1917-18', by Rhoda Power'Clemence Dane and Good Housekeeping: Modernity and common reading', by Stella DeenProduced by Charlotte Pardy

Here is our full conversation with Francis Spufford, he joined us to talk about his new novel, Nonesuch. Produced by Charlotte Pardy

This week, Christy Edwall on the boon of being a bookworm; and Norma Clarke is impressed by a memoir of a childhood survived.'Books: A manifesto, or, How to build a library', by Ian Patterson'The gifts of reading for the next generation: Essays on nurturing a passion for reading', edited by Jennie Orchard'Relearning to read: Adventures in not-knowing', by Ann Morgan'Leaving Home: A memoir in full colour', by Mark HaddonProduced by Charlotte Pardy

As February draws to a close, we’re taking a listen back at some of the conversations we’ve had over the past month on The TLS Podcast.We listen back to Nick Enfield exploring the benefits of playing games, Mary Hitchman on the history of humanity's fascination with the moon, Peter Filkins, winner of the inaugural Freudenheim Translation Prize, joins us with chair of the judges Boyd Tonkin and Darra Goldstein on the hidden properties of kimchi and sourdough.Produced by Charlotte Pardy