Bookclub Folgen

Nadifa Mohamed joins James Naughtie and readers to talk about her award-winning novel The Fortune Men. Set in Cardiff in the 1950s, the novel is based on the real-life trial of Mahmood Mattan, a Somali seaman accused of murder. It's a powerful, moving read and a dazzling portrait of a proud, bewildered young man and his life in Cardiff's Tiger Bay. Upcoming recordings: 15 March at 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, London: Tan Twan Eng will be answering questions about his novel The Garden of Evening Mists. 19 April at 1300 at BBC Broadcasting House, London: Sarah Winman on her novel Tin Man Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to come along.

James Naughtie and a group of readers talk to Cal Flyn about her acclaimed book, Islands of Abandonment, an exploration of places which have been reclaimed by nature. She talks about her travels to Cyprus, the Orkney Islands, First World War battlefields in France, and beyond, chronicling the fightback that plants have staged once humans have left. She reveals why finding hope in even the most desolate places is important to her, and why it's ok to leave lawns unmown. Our next recordings are both in-person events at BBC Broadcasting House in London. 16 February 2023 at 18.30 Nadifa Mohamed will be answering questions about The Fortune Men. 15 March 2023 at 1830 Tan Twan Eng on The Garden of Evening MistsTo come along and take part, email bookclub@bbc.co.uk

Historian Ross King answers listener questions about his book Brunelleschi's Dome. An incredible story of one man's determination to build an apparently impossible structure, it's a tale of ingenuity, artistic rivalries, and single-minded obsession. Although building had started on Florence's Santa Maria del Fiore in the late thirteenth century, it wasn't until 1418 that local goldsmith Filippo Brunelleschi came up with an audacious way of constructing the magnificent dome, which still dominates the Florence skyline today. But as Brunelleschi's Dome reveals, the architect faced huge obstacles and opposition along the way. Our next Bookclub recordings: 18/01/23: Cal Flyn will be talking about her book, Islands of Abandonment. 1300 at BBC Broadcasting House, London.16/02/23: Nadifa Mohamed on The Fortune Men. 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, LondonEmail bookclub@bbc.co.uk to send in a question, or come along.