The Book Club
Goalhanger
The Book Club, hosted by Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett, brings the historical conte
28 EpisodesFortnightly12+Since 2026
Episodes
Start here
Begin where this feed begins
The earliest episodes still in this feed, from 2026. Publishers rotate older episodes out.
- 1. 22. The Leopard: The Greatest Historical Novel Ever Written? · 13 Jul 2026
- 2. 23. The Odyssey Retold: Circe, Monsters and Myth · 20 Jul 2026
- 3. 24. Jane Austen, Nazis and Murder: The Ultimate Summer Reading List · 23 Jul 2026
27. Brave New World: The Dystopia That Came True?
10 Aug 2026 · 1h 22m
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 as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing
26. Mafia and Mystery: Is ‘My Brilliant Friend’ the Greatest Novel of the Century?
3 Aug 2026 · 1h 12m
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 escape and love? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett a
25. The Thirty-Nine Steps: The First James Bond
27 Jul 2026 · 1h 12m
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 and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story
24. Jane Austen, Nazis and Murder: The Ultimate Summer Reading List
23 Jul 2026 · 39 min
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@goalhanger.com For analysis, book recommendations and more, sig
23. The Odyssey Retold: Circe, Monsters and Myth
20 Jul 2026 · 1h 10m
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 Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fas
22. The Leopard: The Greatest Historical Novel Ever Written?
13 Jul 2026 · 1h 21m
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 Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinati
Where this form starts
The broadcast desk
Wartime correspondence and Cavalcade of America established the daily explainer and the narrated history hour long before either had a feed.
Lineage is written by our editors, not inferred from listening data.
Origins
The Golden Age behind The Book Club
Surviving broadcasts from the years this form was invented.
If you liked this
More to explore
Chosen by the same editors.
