The Book Club
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.
Episodes
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 Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Picture of Dorian Gray, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
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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 Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Hunger Games, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
Email us: thebookclub@goalhanger.com
15. Mrs Dalloway: Woolf, Sexuality, and Change
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 Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Mrs Dalloway, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
Email us: thebookclub@goalhanger.com
Instagram: @bookclu
14. Beloved: Memory, Morrison, and Modern American Fiction
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 piece of American fiction?
Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Beloved, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
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13. The Woman In White: Victorians, Sensation, and Scandal
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 Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Woman In White, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
Email us: thebookclub@goalh
12. A Court of Thorns and Roses: ''Fairy Smut'' or Fantasy Sensation?
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 story behind the writing of A Court Of Thorns and Roses, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
Email us: thebookclub@goalhanger.com
Instagram: @bookclubpodhq
TikTok: @thebookcl
11. The Hound of the Baskervilles: Mystery, Folklore, and Sherlock Holmes
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 and John Watson in media beyond the novels? Is this the greatest Sherlock story ever told?
Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The
10. East Of Eden: Steinbeck, Sin, and Redemption
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 Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of East Of Eden, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
Email us: thebookclub@goalhanger.com
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9. Normal People: Class, Ireland, and Heartbreak
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 first loves, or a tale of heartbreak and loss?
Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Normal People, the world it was born of, and the n
8. Northern Lights: Dogma, Destiny, and Dæmons
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 literature?
Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Northern Lights, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
You can order a
7. Frankenstein: Horror, Humanity, and Hubris
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 Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Frankenstein, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
You can order Frankenstein and explore our favourite Folio books
6. The Secret History: Dark Academia, Greek Myth, and Murder
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 experience influence the story?
Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett discuss all this and more in this week's episode on The Secret History by Donna Tartt.
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5. Nineteen Eighty-Four: Big Brother, Surveillance, and Fear
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 about politics today?Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of 1984, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
You can order 1984 and
4. Hamnet: Love, Grief, and Motherhood
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 do differently to the book? How do the themes of fate and loss affect the characters and the reader?
Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the w
3. The Great Gatsby: Old Money, Murder, and the American Dream
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, and bootlegging? Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald, the man behind one of the most iconic novels in all literature?
Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behi
2. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro: Cloning, Free Will, and Soulmates
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 heart challenge scientific innovation?
Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the story behind Kazuo Ishiguro's literary masterpiece, the context in which it was written, and
1. Wuthering Heights: Passion, Violence, and Revenge on the Moors
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 irredeemable?
Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they discuss all this and more.
Email us: thebookclub@goalhanger.com
Instagram: @bookclubpodhq
TikTok: @thebookclubpodhq
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The Book Club - 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 week, our hosts look at either a contemporary or classic title, bringing the historical context behind these famous books to life. This is not your typical literature podcast: The Book Club educates
