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BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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Open Book

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books

Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books, talking to authors and publishers and unearthing lost classics

BBC Radio 4 LW

Mariella Frostrup

Evie Wyld

Peter Walker

Open Book: William Fiennes on the Folio Prize; BJ Novak; Ben Elton on PG Wodehouse

14/12/2014

William Fiennes on the Folio Prize; BJ Novak; Ben Elton on PG Wodehouse

BBC Radio 4 - Open Book, William Fiennes on the Folio Prize; BJ Novak; Ben Elton on PG Wodehouse

Evie Wyld and Peter Walker discuss writing about the Vietnam War.

William Fiennes on the Folio Prize, BJ Novak on a book with no pictures, Evie Wyld and Peter Walker discuss writing about the Vietnam War, and Ben Elton on PG Wodehouse.

Literary news hot of the press from the Folio Prize who have just announced the 80 books nominated. Chairman of the judges William Fiennes joins Mariella to say why he thinks this prize has a unique perspective.

The actor and comedian BJ Novak has written his first children's book. The Book With No Pictures is, as its title suggests, text-only. Despite this it must be doing something right because it's topped the New York Times bestseller list. BJ Novak talks to Mariella about why he chose to omit the illustrations - even on the cover.

Peter Walker from New Zealand and Australian writer Evie Wyld have each written about the legacy of the Vietnam war in their fiction. They talk to Mariella about the impact of that war on Antipodean fiction, a war some feel has been partly written out of their countries' history.

Ben Elton, novelist, stand-up, writer of musicals, co-creator of Blackadder, shares the Book He'd Never Lend, a comic masterpiece which he loves for its refreshing lack of cynicism.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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William Fiennes on the Folio Prize; BJ Novak; Ben Elton on PG Wodehouse

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