Writers and Company from CBC Radio

About this podcast

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.

Writers and Company from CBC Radio

Episodes

2021
In Dostoevsky in Love, Alex Christofi captures the tortured brilliance of the great Russian writer
To mark the bicentenary of the birth of Fyodor Dostoevsky, Eleanor speaks to British writer and editor Alex Christofi. His compelling new book takes a creative approach to the eventful and often tragic life of the Russian writer.
April 11, 2021
63 min
'In the Field' with Khushwant Singh, Mandla Langa, Tayeb Salih and Alexis Wright
Writers & Company presents highlights from some of the many timely and topical special series recorded on location, with writers from India, South Africa, Sudan and Australia.
April 4, 2021
68 min
Florian Zeller explores family, memory, love and loss in his Oscar-nominated drama, The Father
The celebrated French novelist and playwright talks to Eleanor Wachtel about adapting his stage play for the screen. Starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, The Father is nominated for six Academy Awards.
March 28, 2021
54 min
Behind the scenes of a life in literature: Michael Ondaatje interviews Eleanor Wachtel
Eleanor Wachtel is the guest on her own program in this special onstage event with Michael Ondaatje, who interviews Wachtel about her life and career. Recorded in Toronto in 2010.
March 21, 2021
53 min
Lydia Millet's novel A Children's Bible is an imaginative reckoning with climate change
A prophetic story imbued with wit and urgency, the latest book from the American novelist was inspired by the passion of young climate activists. Millet speaks with Eleanor Wachtel about why she welcomes their anger.
March 14, 2021
61 min
Ben Macintyre tells the fascinating true story of the only woman to become a top Soviet spy
The British writer and journalist captures the high-stakes world of espionage in his bestselling nonfiction thrillers. His latest book, Agent Sonya: Moscow's Most Daring Wartime Spy, centres on a German communist who flew under the radar as a housewife and mother of three in the almost exclusively male world of espionage.
March 7, 2021
63 min
Catherine Lacey imagines a character without race or gender in her latest novel, Pew
The American novelist and short story writer talked to Eleanor Wachtel about growing up in Mississippi and her new novel, Pew, about a mysterious stranger who makes a big impact on a small town in the American South.
February 28, 2021
55 min
Veep creator Armando Iannucci finds the comic in the absurd, from The Death of Stalin to David Copperfield
The Scottish writer and director spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about Charles Dickens, finding truth in satire, and his latest movie, The Personal History of David Copperfield.
February 21, 2021
62 min
For Valentine's Day, six writers on love, sex, passion and desire — in life and literature
In 2001, Eleanor Wachtel was joined by Ian McEwan, A.L. Kennedy, Clare Boylan, Rosemary Sullivan, Shyam Selvadurai and Esta Spalding to talk about romance and writing.
February 14, 2021
54 min
Adrian Tomine on The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist — and finding solace in storytelling
The acclaimed cartoonist and illustrator talks to Eleanor Wachtel about his latest book, a graphic memoir that explores his childhood and considers how solitude has shaped his life.
February 7, 2021
64 min
Margot Livesey on The Boy in the Field and the presence of ghosts in her fiction — and in her life
The bestselling author of Eva Moves the Furniture and The House on Fortune Street talks to Eleanor Wachtel about her new novel, and about reimagining the life of her mother — and her fabled connection to the supernatural.
January 31, 2021
57 min
Original Minds: Jane Goodall, Oliver Sacks, Amartya Sen, Jane Jacobs and Desmond Tutu
In celebration of Writers & Company’s 30th anniversary, we present some of the best interviews from the special series Original Minds — five inspiring people whose work has made a difference to how we see the world.
January 24, 2021
70 min
Travels with Graham Greene — the remarkable life and times of a master storyteller
Biographer, poet and editor Richard Greene talks to Eleanor Wachtel about his new book, The Unquiet Englishman: A Life of Graham Greene.
January 17, 2021
62 min
Wayétu Moore tells the story of Liberia through her family’s escape from its devastating civil war
In her memoir, The Dragons, The Giant, The Women, Liberian American writer Wayétu Moore explores the impact of civil war on her birth country, her family, and in her own life.
January 10, 2021
56 min
Indigenous filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin on her legendary career and the power of storytelling
The Abenaki artist, activist and documentary filmmaker was awarded the 2020 Glenn Gould Prize for her lifetime contribution to the arts. She spoke with Eleanor Wachtel at her home in Montreal in 2008.
January 3, 2021
54 min
2020
Amitav Ghosh pursues adventure across the Indian Ocean in Sea of Poppies
High-seas adventure, South Asian migrations and the 19th-century opium trade are the inspiration for Amitav Ghosh’s epic Ibis trilogy. He joined Eleanor Wachtel onstage in Toronto in 2008 to discuss the first novel in the series.
December 27, 2020
53 min
The legacy of John le Carré: master of the political thriller
The British spy-turned-novelist died on Dec. 12, 2020, at 89. In this 2010 interview, le Carré spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about how his childhood and career in Britain's intelligence service shaped his fiction.
December 20, 2020
62 min
David Foenkinos on literary fame, lost artistic genius and John Lennon
The bestselling French novelist talks about his acclaimed books The Mystery of Henri Pick, Charlotte and Lennon: The New York Years.
December 13, 2020
59 min
Tsitsi Dangarembga looks at the dreams and disappointments of post-colonial Zimbabwe
The celebrated writer and filmmaker spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about her latest novel, This Mournable Body, the final book in a trilogy that began with her widely acclaimed debut, Nervous Conditions.
December 6, 2020
59 min
On finding and losing yourself in the city: from Charles Dickens to Virginia Woolf
Writer and critic Matthew Beaumont spoke with Eleanor Wachtel about tracing the footsteps of literary authors in his new book, The Walker: On Finding and Losing Yourself in the Modern City.
November 29, 2020
66 min

Writers and Company from CBC Radio

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

Writers and Company from CBC Radio

Episodes

In Dostoevsky in Love, Alex Christofi captures the tortured brilliance of the great Russian writer

'In the Field' with Khushwant Singh, Mandla Langa, Tayeb Salih and Alexis Wright

Florian Zeller explores family, memory, love and loss in his Oscar-nominated drama, The Father

Behind the scenes of a life in literature: Michael Ondaatje interviews Eleanor Wachtel

Lydia Millet's novel A Children's Bible is an imaginative reckoning with climate change

Ben Macintyre tells the fascinating true story of the only woman to become a top Soviet spy

Catherine Lacey imagines a character without race or gender in her latest novel, Pew

Veep creator Armando Iannucci finds the comic in the absurd, from The Death of Stalin to David Copperfield

For Valentine's Day, six writers on love, sex, passion and desire — in life and literature

Adrian Tomine on The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist — and finding solace in storytelling

Margot Livesey on The Boy in the Field and the presence of ghosts in her fiction — and in her life

Original Minds: Jane Goodall, Oliver Sacks, Amartya Sen, Jane Jacobs and Desmond Tutu

Travels with Graham Greene — the remarkable life and times of a master storyteller

Wayétu Moore tells the story of Liberia through her family’s escape from its devastating civil war

Indigenous filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin on her legendary career and the power of storytelling

Amitav Ghosh pursues adventure across the Indian Ocean in Sea of Poppies

The legacy of John le Carré: master of the political thriller

David Foenkinos on literary fame, lost artistic genius and John Lennon

Tsitsi Dangarembga looks at the dreams and disappointments of post-colonial Zimbabwe

On finding and losing yourself in the city: from Charles Dickens to Virginia Woolf