Books And Authors

Mariella continues her celebration of funny books and funny writers with award winning comic novelist Christopher Brookmyre discussing why Jeff Torrington's 1992 Whitbread Award winning novel "Swing Hammer Swing" is his choice for Open Book's Funniest Book. In the concluding part of Open Book's Mini History of Comic Writing resident expert John Mullan joins award winning screenwriter Sir Ronald Harwood to discuss the two comic writing giants of the 20th century - P G Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh. And Gaza through the eyes of a British Palestinian - Selma Dabbagh discusses her debut novel "Out Of It".

Mariella continues Open Book's celebration of funny books with writer and comedian Jo Brand, whose choice for Open Book's Funniest Book is "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 and Three Quarters" by Sue Townsend which was first published in 1982. In Open Book's Mini History of Comic Writing Professor of Literature at UCL John Mullan is joined by former politician, writer and Dickens fan Roy Hattersley to discuss the genius of Charles Dickens' comedy. And novelists as critics - how carefully do writers have to proceed when reviewing the work of fellow writers? DJ Taylor, Booker-nominated for his novel Derby Day, and fellow writer and chief book reviewer for Time Magazine. Lev Grossman discuss.

Chief Executive of Oxfam Barbara Stocking, and historian Lucy Worsley discuss their favourite paperbacks with Harriett Gilbert: 'Must You Go' by Antonia Fraser, 'Food in England' by Dorothy Hartley and 'Brighton Rock' by Graham Greene.

Tony Parsons opts for The Virgin Soldiers in the search for Open Book's Funniest Book and Mariella Frostrup talks to Jenny Uglow in the next in the series of Open Book's mini-history of comic writing. Suzy Feay and Elvie Wyld run through some of their choices for the most readable books of 2011.

Editor of The Lady, Rachel Johnson, and journalist and broadcaster Martin Kelner pick their favourite books to discuss with Harriett Gilbert: 'Still Missing' by Beth Gutcheon, 'London Belongs to Me' by Norman Collins and 'The Bottle Factory Outing' by Beryl Bainbridge.

Mariella Frostrup continues her celebration of funny books and funny writers with award winning writer A L Kennedy selecting Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One as her favourite funny book. The second installment of Open Book's mini-history of comic writing invites actress Fiona Shaw to join our resident expert John Mullan, Professor of Literature at UCL to explore the impact of Shakespearean and Restoration comedy on the development of the comic novel. And Sarah Hall, award winning writer of four novels, talks about her first collection of short stories The Beautiful Indifference.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot and the computer games industry pioneer Peter Molyneux join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books: The Sportswriter by Richard Ford; The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers.

Mariella Frostrup talks to Penelope Lively about her new novel How it All Began. Ex-Python and Chaucer-enthusiast Terry Jones is joined by Professor John Mullan to discuss medieval bawdy humour. And kicking off the series, John Sessions defends his pick for Open Book's Funniest Book.

Harriett Gilbert is joined by actor David Morrissey and Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Trevor Phillips to discuss some of their favourite books; The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M Cain, The War of the End of the World by Peruvian Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa and A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh.

Harriett Gilbert is joined by the BBC's Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders and novelist and journalist Roisin McAuley to discuss favourite books; The Great Crash 1929 by John Kenneth Galbraith, Peripheral Vision by Patricia Ferguson and Singing in the Shrouds by Ngaio Marsh.

Mariella Frostrup talks to Victoria Hislop about her latest novel, The Thread, a romantic saga set against the backdrop of turbulent Greek history. Kavita Bhanot and Pakistani novelist H.M Naqvi discuss issues currently surrounding young Asian writers. And Swedish crime-writing duo Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom talk about how they tackle contemporary issues… but not how they work together.

Christopher Frayling and Nikki Bedi talk to Harriett Gilbert about the books they love.

Mariella Frostrup talks to the Canadian Booker prize winning author Margaret Atwood about her latest book "In Other Worlds. Award winning short story writer Helen Simpson joins Margaret Atwood to discuss the challenge of making issue based fiction readable.And as Haruki Murakami's epic trilogy 1Q84 is published in English simultaneously in America and the UK, writer Hari Kunzru considers whether it lives up to the hype.

Rick Stein and Michael Dobbs recommend favourite books to presenter Harriett Gilbert.

Ian Rankin talks to Mariella Frostrup about his latest crime thriller The Impossible Dead, and world famous photographer Don McCullin gives us his five of the best books

Classicist Mary Beard and writer Bidisha talk to Harriett Gilbert about their favourite books, at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Robert Harris talks about his latest book The Fear Index with Mariella Frostrup and discusses why he wanted to base it around the money orientated world of Swiss Hedge Fund managers. We discover the unprecedented appeal of The Iliad. Two debut novels have been shortlisted for Man Booker prize - Suzi Feay discusses if this is the place for new writing and how to find that great first novel.

Former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo joins short story writer Sara Maitland and presenter Harriett Gilbert to talk about the books they love, and share their enthusiasm for their choices.

Open Book marks the 50th anniversary of Joseph Heller's bestseller, Catch 22, as soldier turned author Andy McNab and Professor Christopher Bigsby discuss why this 1961 novel remains so popular. We look at the role of writers in residence with Horatio Clare, writer-in-residence for Maersk lines and Naomi Alderman, soon to be writer-in-residence at the Gladstone Library. And literary apps: responding to your feedback on them and looking at what the publishing industry has in store for us in the future.

Charles Frazier, bestselling author of Cold Mountain, discusses his long awaited third novel Nightwoods which is once again located in the forests and mountains of North Carolina. Travel writers Sara Wheeler and Michael Jacobs look at the nature of travel writing and if the genre will survive in the age of the internet, cheap flights and apps. And Lev Grossman and Erin Morgenstern discuss why they felt compelled to write magic literature for adults and how their books differ from traditional children's fantasy novels.