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William Fiennes on the Folio Prize; BJ Novak; Ben Elton on PG Wodehouse

William Fiennes on the Folio Prize, BJ Novak on a book with no pictures, Evie Wyld and Peter Walker discuss writing about the Vietnam War, and Ben Elton on PG Wodehouse.

Literary news hot of the press from the Folio Prize who have just announced the 80 books nominated. Chairman of the judges William Fiennes joins Mariella to say why he thinks this prize has a unique perspective.

The actor and comedian BJ Novak has written his first children's book. The Book With No Pictures is, as its title suggests, text-only. Despite this it must be doing something right because it's topped the New York Times bestseller list. BJ Novak talks to Mariella about why he chose to omit the illustrations - even on the cover.

Peter Walker from New Zealand and Australian writer Evie Wyld have each written about the legacy of the Vietnam war in their fiction. They talk to Mariella about the impact of that war on Antipodean fiction, a war some feel has been partly written out of their countries' history.

Ben Elton, novelist, stand-up, writer of musicals, co-creator of Blackadder, shares the Book He'd Never Lend, a comic masterpiece which he loves for its refreshing lack of cynicism.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Thu 18 Dec 2014 15:30

Chapters

  • William Fiennes on the Folio Prize

    Duration: 04:08

  • B J Novak

    Duration: 06:55

  • Writing about Vietnam

    Duration: 08:07

  • Book I'd Never Lend - Listeners and Ben Elton

    Duration: 07:50

BOOKLIST

The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak

After the Fire,聽a Still Small Voice by Evie Wyld

Some Here Among Us by Peter Walker

Code of the Woosters by P G Wodehouse

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Mariella Frostrup
Interviewed Guest Evie Wyld
Interviewed Guest Peter Walker

Broadcasts

  • Sun 14 Dec 2014 16:00
  • Thu 18 Dec 2014 15:30

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