The Book Club

35. Goldfinger: The Ultimate James Bond Novel

Why did James Bond appeal to 1950s Britain? Is Goldfinger hopelessly out of date? And, who really inspired the titular villain? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascin...

2026-10-06

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34. American Psycho: Murder, Trump, and New York City

Why was the book so heavily censored on publication? Is the novel gratuitously violent?  And, what happened when Tabby met Bret Easton Ellis? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they de...

2026-09-29

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33. Jane Eyre: The Best Brontë Novel?

Why is Jane Eyre a romantic classic? Who was Charlotte Brontë? And, what social critiques lie in the heart of the novel? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating s...

2026-09-22

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32. A Month In The Country: Is This The Greatest Novella Ever Written?

How did the First World War affect the British soldier survivors? Is this pastoral novella one of the UK's best books? How did J L Carr's Yorkshire upbringing impact the setting and tone of the story?...

2026-09-15

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31. Lord Of The Flies: Survival Of The Fittest

How did William Golding’s experience in the Second World War inspire Lord Of The Flies? Why was the novel initially rejected by publishers? And, what does it say it about the fragile nature of society...

2026-09-08

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30. Lolita: Nabokov’s Twisted Masterpiece?

Who was Vladimir Nabokov? Why is Lolita so controversial? And, what was the reaction to its publication? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the story behind Lolita, and the ...

2026-09-01

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29. Rebecca: Daphne du Maurier’s Gothic Epic

How did Daphne du Maurier use her own experience to write the chilling events of Rebecca? Who is the sinister Mrs Danvers? And, what really happened to Rebecca? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syr...

2026-08-25

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28. Hemingway’s Spanish Civil War: For Whom The Bell Tolls

How did the Spanish Civil War inspire one of Ernest Hemingway’s greatest novels? Why was Hemingway so captivated by Spain? And, were the characters of For Whom The Bell Tolls inspired by real people? ...

2026-08-18

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27. Brave New World: The Dystopia That Came True?

How does Aldous Huxley satirise roaring twenties America? Is a Brave New World more realistic than 1984? And, what is the novel's Shakespearean connection? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett a...

2026-08-11

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26. Mafia and Mystery: Is ‘My Brilliant Friend’ the Greatest Novel of the Century?

What does My Brilliant Friend tell us about the dark underbelly of Italian society after the Second World War? Who is the mysterious Elena Ferrante? And, how did she craft a heartbreaking parable of e...

2026-08-04

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25. The Thirty-Nine Steps: The First James Bond

How did the First World War inspire The 39 Steps? Why did John Buchan set the novel in Scotland? And, is the dashing protagonist Richard Hannay, a model for later Spy heroes? Join Dominic Sandbrook a...

2026-07-28

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24. Jane Austen, Nazis and Murder: The Ultimate Summer Reading List

Which books should you take on your summer holiday? How have some of Dominic and Tabby’s favourite destinations shaped these novels? And, what makes a summer classic? Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhang...

2026-07-24

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23. The Odyssey Retold: Circe, Monsters and Myth

How does Madeline Miller re-work Greek mythology to explore women’s experience? Is Circe the best fantasy novel of the 2010s? And, why do we remain captivated by the world of ancient Greece? Join Dom...

2026-07-21

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22. The Leopard: The Greatest Historical Novel Ever Written?

How did Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s family story shape his only novel, The Leopard? Why is The Leopard considered an Italian masterpiece? And, who is the sexiest man ever written? Join Dominic San...

2026-07-14

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21. The Wind In The Willows: How A Bedtime Story Became An Icon

How did Kenneth Grahame come up with the idea for The Wind In The Willows? Why was the novel initially rejected by publishers? And, what character would Tabby and Dominic be? Join Dominic Sandbrook a...

2026-07-07

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20. Game of Thrones: The Horrifying True Story Behind A Song of Ice and Fire

What real-world historical events and figures inspired the political conflicts in Westeros? Is George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones better than J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings? And, is it li...

2026-06-30

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19. Little Women: The Secret Sadness of a Classic

How did Louisa May Alcott break social and literary conventions? Is Little Women the first coming of age story in a novel? And, what do Tabby and Dominic think of Greta Gerwig’s 2019 film adaption? J...

2026-06-23

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18. The Code Of The Woosters: The Funniest Book Ever Written?

How did P.G. Wodehouse become one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century? Why have Jeeves and Wooster become such an iconic pairing? And, did P.G. Wodehouse collaborate with the Nazis? ...

2026-06-16

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

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 Wilde? Join...

2026-06-09

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

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 S...

2026-06-02

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The Book Club

Episodes (36 episodes)

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