This week, Emily Herring explains why we all need to take it a bit easier; and Ana Alicia Garza on the novelist whose ancestor inspired a Victorian classic.

'In Defence of Leisure: Experiments in living with Marion Milner', by Akshi Singh

'The Brain at Rest: Why doing nothing can change your life', by Joseph Jebelli

Oliver Twist & Me: The true story of Dickens's best-loved novel', by Nicholas Blincoe

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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

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This week, an interview with the inspirational Michael Morpurgo; and David Horspool discusses the Second World War with Tim Bouverie, the winner of this year's Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize.

'The Line to Legend Land', with an introduction by Michael Morpurgo

'Black Beauty: A retelling', by Michael Morpurgo

'Allies at war: The politics of defeating Hitler', by Tim Bouverie

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, the extraordinary stories of two pioneering women: Francesca Wade on Rhoda Power, and Sarah Lonsdale on Clemence Dane.

'In the Storm: Caught in the chaos of the Russian revolution 1917-18', by Rhoda Power

'Clemence Dane and Good Housekeeping: Modernity and common reading', by Stella Deen

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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Here is our full conversation with Francis Spufford, he joined us to talk about his new novel, Nonesuch.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Christy Edwall on the boon of being a bookworm; and Norma Clarke is impressed by a memoir of a childhood survived.

'Books: A manifesto, or, How to build a library', by Ian Patterson

'The gifts of reading for the next generation: Essays on nurturing a passion for reading', edited by Jennie Orchard

'Relearning to read: Adventures in not-knowing', by Ann Morgan

'Leaving Home: A memoir in full colour', by Mark Haddon

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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