• 1 hour 19 minutes
    40. Master And Commander: The History Behind the Epic

    Are the Master And Commander novels as good as the film? Why was there so much mystery surrounding the life of author Patrick O’Brian? And, why did the series initially struggle to take off?


    Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Master And Commander, and the world it was born of.


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    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor: James Clayden

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson


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    10 November 2026, 12:05 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    39. Catcher In The Rye: JD Salinger’s American Rebel

    Did ‘The Catcher In The Rye’ create modern youth culture? What made JD Salinger’s writing so unique? And, how was the novel rooted in Salinger’s service in the Second World War?


    Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Catcher In The Rye, and the world it was born of.


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    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor: Lorcan Moullier

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson


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    3 November 2026, 9:26 am
  • 1 hour 20 minutes
    38. The Truth Behind Stephen King’s The Shining

    How did Stephen King's stay in a ghostly hotel in Colorado inspire The Shining? Is Stanley Kubrick's iconic movie a faithful adaptation? And, is King a good writer?


    Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Shining, and the world it was born of.


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    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor: Lorcan Moullier

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson


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    27 October 2026, 12:10 am
  • 1 hour 18 minutes
    37. Dostoevsky’s Russian Masterpiece: White Nights

    Who was Fyodor Dostoevsky? Was White Nights his masterpiece? And, how did the world of 19th century Russia influence his writing?


    Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of White Nights, and the world it was born of.


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    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor:  Joe Pettit

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson


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    19 October 2026, 11:05 pm
  • 1 hour 34 minutes
    36. The Bell Jar: Sylvia Plath’s Tragedy

    How did the paranoia of 1950s McCarthyist America shape Sylvia Plath? Why was The Bell Jar the poet's only novel? And, what was the truth of her relationship with fellow poet Ted Hughes?


    Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Bell Jar, and the world it was born of.


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    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor: Joe Pettit

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson


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    12 October 2026, 11:05 pm
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
    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 fascinating story behind the writing of Goldfinger, and the world it was born of.


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    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor: James Clayden

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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    5 October 2026, 11:05 pm
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    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 delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of American Psycho, and the world it was born of.


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    For analysis, book recommendations and more, sign up to our newsletter, Book Club Notes, introduced weekly by Tabby or Dominic. Sign up at: https://www.thebookclubhq.com/ 


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    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor: Joe Pettit

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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    28 September 2026, 11:05 pm
  • 1 hour 22 minutes
    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 story behind the writing of Jane Eyre, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.


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    Klarna balance account required to receive cashback points. Limitations, terms, and conditions apply.


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    For analysis, book recommendations and more, sign up to our newsletter, Book Club Notes, introduced weekly by Tabby or Dominic.


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    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor: Caroline Kaye

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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    21 September 2026, 11:05 pm
  • 1 hour 5 minutes
    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?


    Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of A Month In The Country, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.


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    Klarna balance account required to receive cashback points. Limitations, terms, and conditions apply.

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    For analysis, book recommendations and more, sign up to our newsletter, Book Club Notes, introduced weekly by Tabby or Dominic.

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    YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠⁠


    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor: Lorcan Moullier

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

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    14 September 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 1 hour 17 minutes
    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?


    Download the Klarna app to stay on top of your money, so you can think about, well, anything else.


    Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Lord Of The Flies, and the world it was born of.


    Klarna balance account required to receive cashback points. Limitations, terms, and conditions apply.


    Exclusions apply. Learn more at https://www.klarna.com/uk/buyer-protection-description/.


    Email us: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

    For analysis, book recommendations and more, sign up to our newsletter, Book Club Notes, introduced weekly by Tabby or Dominic.

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    Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

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    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor: Caroline Kaye

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson


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    7 September 2026, 11:05 pm
  • 1 hour 31 minutes
    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 novel itself.


    Email us: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

    For analysis, book recommendations and more, sign up to our newsletter, Book Club Notes, introduced weekly by Tabby or Dominic.

    Sign up at: https://www.thebookclubhq.com/ 


    Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠

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    Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

    Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris

    Social Producer: Harry Balden

    Video Editor: Lorcan Moullier and Josh Smith

    Executive Producer: Dom Johnson


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    31 August 2026, 11:00 pm
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