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Pierre Jarawan probes Lebanon's troubled past in his affecting new novel, Song for the Missing
The Lebanese German writer and poet spoke to Eleanor Wachtel about poetry, heritage and the legacy of Lebanon's 15-year civil war.
Victorian virtuosity meets rock royalty in Nick Hornby's new memoir, Dickens and Prince
The English writer and lyricist spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about writing a love letter to Charles Dickens and Prince, an unlikely pairing who share similarities in their sheer genius and creative output.
Imani Perry on the remarkable life and legacy of Lorraine Hansberry, author of A Raisin in the Sun
The author and scholar on the late playwright and her seminal drama about black American life in the pre-Civil Rights era.
Nick Drnaso captures modern anxieties with quiet brilliance in his acclaimed graphic novels
The American graphic novelist spoke to Eleanor Wachtel about distilling modern anxieties into brilliant graphic novels.
Ian McEwan on private lives, global events and the accidents of fortune that shape us
The acclaimed English novelist spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about the inspiration behind his latest novel Lessons.
Zambian American novelist Namwali Serpell on death, dreams and the haunting nature of grief
The author of The Furrows spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about writing an epic novel inspired by the tragic real-life passing of a loved one.
Imagination takes flight in Hervé Le Tellier's adventurous hit novel, The Anomaly
The French writer and linguist spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about writing a taut thriller he describes as a "thought experiment."
Gwendoline Riley's new novel My Phantoms charts the fractured ground between mother and daughter
The award-winning English writer talks to Eleanor Wachtel about her latest novel My Phantoms, which charts the fractured ground between a mother and daughter.
Bestselling Swedish writer Fredrik Backman on the personal story behind his hit novels
The author of the literary phenomenon A Man Called Ove spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about how his personal life has influenced his work, including his latest novel The Winners.
Looking back at Hilary Mantel, beloved author of the bestselling Wolf Hall trilogy
In this 2012 interview, the English writer spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about her Booker Prize-winning novels, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. Mantel died at the age of 70 on Sept. 22, 2022.
Remembering Javier Marías: Spain's most celebrated contemporary writer
Javier Marías, Spain's most prestigious novelist of the past half century, died on Sept. 11, 2022. In this 2017 interview, Eleanor Wachtel spoke with Marías about his psychological thriller novel, Thus Bad Begins.
Pakistani novelist Mohsin Hamid on trauma after 9/11, migration and belonging
The acclaimed author spoke to Eleanor Wachtel about his latest novel, The Last White Man, and previous celebrated works such as Exit West and The Reluctant Fundamentalist.
A new season of Writers & Company with Eleanor Wachtel begins Sept. 11
An interview with Pakistani novelist Mohsin Hamid kicks off another exciting season! Tune in on CBC Radio One on Sundays at 3 p.m. AT & ET (3:30 NT), 5 p.m. CT, MT & PT and Tuesdays at 3 p.m. in select regions.
Journalist and novelist Renata Adler — a wide-ranging chronicler of contemporary life
In this 2001 conversation, novelist and journalist Renata Adler spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about writing style and a career chronicling contemporary life.
Clive James on Cultural Amnesia, totalitarianism, and his remarkable career
In this 2009 interview, the late Australian writer and critic spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about writing a witty compendium of 20th century thinkers — with an urgent plea for humanism in the face of tyranny.
Persepolis creator Marjane Satrapi finds passion and humour in times of unrest
In this 2011 interview the award-winning Iranian comic creator and filmmaker spoke to Eleanor Wachtel about how her unique vision of Iran draws on her own experience and colourful family history.
Dance legend Bill T. Jones on growing up Black and gay, and being inspired by Abraham Lincoln
In this 2010 conversation, American dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about his lifelong commitment to artistic rebellion.
Mavis Gallant: celebrating the centenary of the masterful Canadian short story writer
In this 2008 conversation in Paris, the late Canadian short story writer — who would have turned 100 this year — spoke to Eleanor Watchel about her journalism roots, her early struggles as a young writer in Europe, and carving out her own literary path.
Talking with a master storyteller: Eleanor Wachtel on interviewing Mavis Gallant
Writers & Company host Eleanor Wachtel reflects on her 2008 interview with Canadian short story master Mavis Gallant.
Karim Rashid wants nothing less than to change the world — through design
In this 2016 conversation, the Egyptian-born, Canadian-raised industrial designer spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about cultural shaping and the power of design.
Artist David Hockney is a master of reinvention — from the swimming pools of LA, to the forests of England
In this 2011 conversation with Eleanor Wachtel, the celebrated British artist and designer reflects on a life of art and challenging the norm.
Nadine Labaki's Oscar-nominated film, Capernaum, highlights the heroism of children in Beirut
In this 2019 conversation, the Lebanese actor and director spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about creating a film involving a pre-teen boy who sues his parents for giving him life.
Edward P. Jones's novel The Known World is a compelling tale of slavery in the Antebellum South
The Pulitzer Prize-winning American author spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about The Known World, a historical novel that looks at slavery in early 19th century Virginia.
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Looking back at the visionary Peter Brook
The influential British theatre director died on July 2, 2022. He was 97. Brook spoke with Eleanor Wachtel on-stage in Toronto in 2000 about the evolution of his career, the enduring power of Shakespeare, and his love of theatre.
Kent Monkman's subversive art creates a counter-narrative of Indigenous experience
In this 2016 conversation, celebrated visual artist Kent Monkman spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about using his art to reflect Indigenous resilience.
