Episodes 18
Avg. Duration 1h 14m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.9 (643)
Since Feb 2026
Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
100%
Hosting
feeds.megaphone.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

The Book Club, hosted by Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett, brings the historical context behind famous books to life. Each week, the hosts explore a classic or contemporary title, unpacking the world in which it was written and the story behind its author. This is not your typical literature podcast: The Book Club educates AND entertains, leaving you knowing some of the greatest stories ever told.

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Recent Episodes

17. Oscar Wilde's Downfall: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Jun 08, 2026 1h 22m

How did the anxieties of late-Victorian Britain inspire Dorian Gray? Which real people lay behind the characters of Dorian Gray? What were the French Decadents, and how did they influence…

16. The Hunger Games: Rebellion and Violence In Dystopian America

Jun 01, 2026 1h 15m

What does The Hunger Games say about the state of modern America? How did reality TV inspire The Hunger Games? Why did Suzanne Collin's novel become such a sensation with young adults? Join Dominic…

15. Mrs Dalloway: Woolf, Sexuality, and Change

May 25, 2026 1h 23m

What does Mrs Dalloway express about female sexuality and experience? Why did its modernist style cause such controversy? And, what was Virginia Woolf really like? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha…

14. Beloved: Memory, Morrison, and Modern American Fiction

May 18, 2026 1h 19m

Who is Beloved, and what is the true historical story that inspired the novel? How does Toni Morrison use magical realism to explore the horror of Slavery? Why has Beloved become such a monumental…

13. The Woman In White: Victorians, Sensation, and Scandal

May 11, 2026 1h 12m

How did Wilkie Collins craft one of the earliest examples of detective fiction? What does The Woman In White reveal about the Victorian society? And, why did the novel cause such a sensation? Join…

12. A Court of Thorns and Roses: ''Fairy Smut'' or Fantasy Sensation?

May 04, 2026 1h 15m

How was ACOTAR inspired by traditional folklore? Why has the novel become such a mass sensation? And, what is Romantasy? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating…

11. The Hound of the Baskervilles: Mystery, Folklore, and Sherlock Holmes

Apr 27, 2026 1h 16m

The Hound of the Baskervilles: Mystery, Folklore, and Sherlock HolmesWhat is the true story that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle's best-seller? Why have there been so many portrayals of Sherlock Holmes…

10. East Of Eden: Steinbeck, Sin, and Redemption

Apr 20, 2026 1h 8m

Why did Steinbeck consider East of Eden his magnum opus?  What does the novel reveal about human nature? How did Steinbeck interrogate early 20th century American society? Join Dominic Sandbrook and…

9. Normal People: Class, Ireland, and Heartbreak

Apr 13, 2026 1h 9m

Is Sally Rooney's hit novel really a love story? How does class division impact the love Marianne and Connell feel for each other? Is Rooney creating a relatable story of miscommunication during…

8. Northern Lights: Dogma, Destiny, and Dæmons

Apr 06, 2026 1h 17m

To what extent is Pullman’s novel a critique of organised religion? How was Northern Lights inspired by Milton's Paradise Lost? And, did Northern Lights reshape the landscape of modern children's…

7. Frankenstein: Horror, Humanity, and Hubris

Mar 30, 2026 1h 16m

Did Mary Shelley create the first true science fiction novel? Is Frankenstein a philosophical fable? How did Frankenstein inspire countless more horror stories? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha…

6. The Secret History: Dark Academia, Greek Myth, and Murder

Mar 24, 2026 1h 23m

How does Donna Tartt combine gothic academia and greek mythology in her captivating debut novel? What do the characters tell us about the dark side of human nature? And, did her own university…

5. Nineteen Eighty-Four: Big Brother, Surveillance, and Fear

Mar 17, 2026 1h 28m

Why is 1984 as relevant today as when it was published? Who is Big Brother, and why is he so powerful? What was George Orwell's intention when creating the world of 1984, and what does it tell us…

4. Hamnet: Love, Grief, and Motherhood

Mar 10, 2026 1h 7m

How does Maggie O'Farrell create the historical figures of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes Hathaway, in her novel Hamnet? What does the film adaptation starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley…

3. The Great Gatsby: Old Money, Murder, and the American Dream

Mar 03, 2026 1h 8m

Was Daisy Buchanan, the object of Jay Gatsby’s obsessive love in the novel, inspired by the author’s own love life? What window does The Great Gatsby open onto 1920s America, with its Jazz, flappers,…

2. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro: Cloning, Free Will, and Soulmates

Feb 24, 2026 1h 3m

What inspired Kazuo Ishiguro’s timeless story about mortality, growing up, and the human condition? How are its characters so relatable, and yet entirely unique? And, why does the dark secret at its…

1. Wuthering Heights: Passion, Violence, and Revenge on the Moors

Feb 17, 2026 1h 1m

Why does Emily Brontë's novel, Wuthering Heights, have such an enduring romantic association? Is Heathcliff a romantic lead, or an abusive antihero? Are the characters aspirational in any way, or…

The Book Club - Trailer

Feb 10, 2026 1m Trailer

Do you want to learn more about some of the greatest stories ever told? Join Dominic Sandbrook, co-host of The Rest Is History, and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the world of literature. Each…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Book Club have?

The Book Club has published 18 episodes since February 2026, covering topics in Arts, Books.

Is The Book Club still active?

The Book Club is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 1h 14m.

How do I contact The Book Club for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for The Book Club, including email and social media links.

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