The Essay Episodes Available now
Paul Farley—A Taste for the Baroque
2/5 Paul Farley, poet and professor of creative writing, discusses 'baroque 'n' roll'.
Alexandra Harris—A Taste for the Baroque
1/5 Alexandra Harris discusses the legacy of Baroque style in 20th-century English design.
Rachel Johnson—Explaining the Explicit
5/5 Rachel Johnson asks if we are all too ready to leap to judgement about writing about sex.
Vicki Feaver—Explaining the Explicit
4/5 Vicki Feaver reflects on how the poet can explore their own sexuality.
Sarah Churchwell—Explaining the Explicit
3/5 Sarah Churchwell examines the tradition of depicting sex in popular fiction.
David Bellos—Explaining the Explicit
2/5 Writer and academic David Bellos on why translating sex in literature is so difficult.
Julian Barnes—Explaining the Explicit
1/5 Writer Julian Barnes asks 'Is writing about sex the same as writing about anything?'.
Owen Sheers in Poland—Winterwalks
5/5 Owen Sheers visits a forest in Poland, where sights and sounds are alluring and timeless.
Erica Wagner—Winterwalks
4/5 Erica Wagner recalls a midnight journey, with a hill, a castle and biting winds.
Scarlett Thomas—Winterwalks
3/5 Scarlett Thomas describes fruits and vegetables on a walk across a winter landscape.
