Writers and Company from CBC Radio (Highlights)

CBC Radio's Writers and Company offers an opportunity to explore in depth the lives, thoughts and works of remarkable writers from around the world. Hosted by Eleanor Wachtel.

Updated: Weekly
Download episodes from this podcast for: 6 months

 

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Karl Ove Knausgaard Podcast

Norwegian writer Karl Ove Knausgaard's six-volume, 3600-page memoir, "My Struggle", is a literary sensation at home, and now, around the world.

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[mp3 file: runs 00:52:46]

Claude Lanzmann Podcast

An interview with the French writer and filmmaker, Claude Lanzmann. The creator of the 9 1/2 hour masterpiece, "Shoah" has written an award-winning memoir called "The Patagonian Hare".

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[mp3 file: runs 00:52:32]

Peter Stamm Podcast

From Switzerland, the highly-acclaimed novelist, playwright and journalist, Peter Stamm. His latest book to be translated into English is called "We're Flying".

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[mp3 file: runs 00:52:34]

Marina Warner NEW Podcast

On December 16th we aired (on the podcast and streaming audio versions only) our 1995 interview with Marina Warner about Fairy Tales. Now, in this brand new interview, Marina Warner talks about Scheherazade and her book "Stranger Magic: Charmed States and the Arabian Nights."

Download Marina Warner NEW Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:47]

Robert Hughes Podcast

Our 2006 conversation with Robert Hughes, the Australian art critic and social historian. He spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about his memoir, "Things I Didn't Know". Sadly, Robert Hughes died last August at age 74.

Download Robert Hughes Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:51:28]

Francine du Plessix Gray Podcast

"Them: A Memoir of Parents" by novelist and biographer, Francine du Plessix Gray. We go back to our 2006 interview when Eleanor Wachtel spoke with her about her portrait of her mother and step-father - a "power couple" whose lives reflect the upheaval and displacement of the 20th century.

Download Francine du Plessix Gray Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:22]

David Mitchell Podcast Encore

Eleanor Wachtel goes back to her 2004 conversation about "Cloud Atlas" - the book. Six novels in one from England's David Mitchell. Exhilarating, entertaining, and elegant, it's now been made into a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry.

Download David Mitchell Podcast Encore
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:30]

Fairy Tale Podcast

Fairy Tale special: Due to copyright reasons, the Rohinton Mistry interview is not available as a podcast or as streaming audio. Instead - because all things fairy tale are huge at the moment - our 1995 conversation with Marina Warner about her book "From the Beast to the Blonde". Also, the late, great Angela Carter reads a couple of classics.

Download Fairy Tale Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:48:41]

Gail Jones Podcast

From Australia, novelist Gail Jones. Her quietly lyrical, powerful novels look at time, memory, and Australia's colonial past.

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[mp3 file: runs 00:52:02]

Dark Humour Panel Podcast

Eleanor Wachtel brings together an international panel of writers to discuss the lighter side of dark humour in their work. With Howard Jacobson from England, A.L. Kennedy from Scotland, and from Norway, Erlend Loe.

Download Dark Humour Panel Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:46]

Fran Lebowitz Podcast

In a candid and personal conversation, Fran Lebowitz talks about her upbringing in New Jersey, about her early success, and about her writer's block--or, as she calls it, a writer's "blockade"--an ongoing problem that she explores with Eleanor. But she remains a sharp observer of modern American culture. This file contains bonus audio, not heard on the broadcast version of the show.

Download Fran Lebowitz Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:59:12]

Teju Cole Podcast

Eleanor Wachtel in conversation with the Nigerian-American novelist, Teju Cole. His latest book, "Open City", is a subtle meditation on history and identity.

Download Teju Cole Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:49]

Paul Fussell Encore Interview

In observance of Remembrance Day, we're rebroadcasting our 1997 interview the late Paul Fussell. His award-winning book, "The Great War and Modern Memory" was a ground-breaking work that explored how war is remembered and mythologised in literature and in life. An American war veteran and renowned academic, Paul Fussell died in May at the age of 88.

Download Paul Fussell Encore Interview
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:07]

Louise Erdrich Podcast

Native American writer, Louise Erdrich, is the author of fourteen novels, short stories, poetry and children's books. She made a rare public appearance in Toronto, and Eleanor Wachtel spoke with her, onstage, in front of a packed house at the International Festival of Authors.

Download Louise Erdrich Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:13]

Mohammed Hanif Podcast

Pakistani writer, Mohammed Hanif, is the author of a dark, subversive, funny - as he says - "alleged novel", "A Case of Exploding Mangoes", about the death of General Zia. His latest book, set in today's Karachi, is called "Our Lady of Alice Bhatti".

Download Mohammed Hanif Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:41]

John Lanchester Podcast

English writer, John Lanchester's novel, "Capital" is a big Dickensian take on modern London on the brink of the 2008 financial meltdown.

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[mp3 file: runs 00:51:56]

Ben Lerner Podcast

American Ben Lerner's recent book, "Leaving the Atocha Station" is the 33 year old poet's first novel, and was named one of the best books of 2011 by many publications, including The New Yorker, The Guardian, and The New Statesman.

Download Ben Lerner Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:54]

Zadie Smith Podcast

Zadie Smith is the author of "White Teeth" and "On Beauty". Now she has a new novel, "NW", set in her home turf in London. Eleanor Wachtel spoke with her onstage, in front of a sold-out audience, at Harbourfront in Toronto. Our streaming version contains bonus audio, not heard in the broadcast version.

Download Zadie Smith Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 01:00:14]

Ian McEwan Podcast

Eleanor Wachtel speaks with one of England's leading novelists, Ian McEwan. His new novel, "Sweet Tooth", is about the private side of Cold War espionage.

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[mp3 file: runs 00:52:20]

Julie Otsuka Podcast

Eleanor Wachtel speaks with the award-winning Japanese-American novelist, Julie Otsuka. Her latest book, "The Buddha in the Attic", is a poetic evocation of the life of the Japanese 'picture brides' who came to America a century ago.

Download Julie Otsuka Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:43]

Michael Chabon Podcast

Eleanor Wachtel speaks with a great American storyteller, Michael Chabon, about his new novel, "Telegraph Avenue".

Download Michael Chabon Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:51:26]

Michael Frayn Podcast

Michael Frayn is a master of farce and morality, politics and science. He talks with Eleanor about his new farce, a novel, "Skios" and he offers heartfelt insight into the life of his father.

Download Michael Frayn Podcast
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:40]

Roddy Doyle Podcast (Encore from 1996)

Roddy Doyle from 1996 talking with Eleanor Wachtel about his - then - new novel "The Woman Who Walked Into Doors".

Download Roddy Doyle Podcast (Encore from 1996)
[mp3 file: runs 00:48:05]

Alan Bennett Podcast (Encore from 1995)

Our 1995 conversation with England's "National Teddy Bear" - writer and wit, Alan Bennett.

Download Alan Bennett Podcast (Encore from 1995)
[mp3 file: runs 00:48:45]

Susan Sontag Podcast (Encore from 2000)

Eleanor Wachtel's 2000 conversation with the late American writer and critic Susan Sontag - about fiction, ethics, and illness.

Download Susan Sontag Podcast (Encore from 2000)
[mp3 file: runs 00:52:57]

Jane Jacobs Podcast (Encore from 2002)

Our 2002 interview with the inspiring Canadian, "the guru of cities", the late Jane Jacobs. One of the more fascinating tidbits you'll glean from this interview is why you might not want to drink pink lemonade...

Download Jane Jacobs Podcast (Encore from 2002)
[mp3 file: runs 00:51:50]