This week, John Banville considers the work of a formidable Irish writer; and Fiona Stafford on meetings with remarkable trees.

'An Arrow in Flight', by Mary Lavin, selected by Colm Tóibín

'The Genius of Trees: How trees mastered the elements and shaped the world', by Harriet Rix

The Great Tree Story: How forests have shaped our world', by Levison Wood

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Julian Evans on two books exploring the link between food and war in Ukraine; and Lily Herd introduces this issue's In Brief reviews.

'Strong Roots: A Ukrainian family story, interrupted', by Olia Hercules

'Bread and War: A Ukrainian story of food, bravery and hope', by Felicity Spector

In Brief: 'Postcards, translators and Esperanto pioneers', by Guilherme Fians, Bernhard Struck and Claire Taylor; 'Rapture of the deep', by Robert Irwin, completed by Andrew Crumey; 'Here comes the sun', by Bill McKibben; 'Queens at war', by Alison Weir; 'Interrupted journeys', by Adrian Potter; 'Literature and epistemic injustice', by Sarah Colvin; 'Invading the American canon', by Muireann Maguire; 'Nabokov and the Russian diaspora', by Bryan Karetnyk

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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Here is the interview with Michael Morpurgo in full.

Produced by Charlotte Pardu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.