Take Four Books

The award-winning English writer, Tessa Hadley, speaks to Take Four Books about her new work of non-fiction, Alone With A Book, and, together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connections to three other texts. Alone With A Book is a collection of essays written by Tessa as she reflects on a lifetime spent in reading and writing.
For her three influences Tessa chose: the children's book, Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce from 1958; The Latehomecomer by Mavis Gallant, which is a collection of short stories put together by Tessa herself and published by Pushkin Press in 2025; and finally the coming-of-age classic Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, from 1847.
Producer: Dominic Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This is an BBC Audio Scotland production.

The acclaimed Irish writer Andrew Meehan talks about his novel Hey Man and explores its link to three other works with presenter James Crawford.
Hey Man tells the story of a unique, challenging and beautiful friendship between Ian and Tommy as they navigate three chapters of their lives, from a care-free summer in London to the ritual and peace a Benedictine monastery.
For his three influences, Andrew chose Amy Bloom's White Houses (2018), Lorrie Moore's Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? (1994), and Marilynne Robinson's Gilead (2004).
Producer: Caitlin Sneddon
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

The best-selling American author John Grisham speaks to Take Four Books about his latest novel, The French Illusion, and, together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connections to three other works.
The French Illusion begins with Paul and Chelsea Tanner’s fairytale wedding. But their honeymoon to Paris takes a shocking turn when they are kidnapped while on a day trip to the French countryside.
For his three influences John chose: John Le Carre’s The Little Drummer Girl (1983); John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath (1939) which won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction; and finally Harper Lee’s best-selling American classic, To Kill A Mockingbird (1960).
Producer: Dominic Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

The award-winning Jamaican novelist Marlon James on his Booker-shortlisted novel The Disappearers, as he and presenter James Crawford explore its connections to three other books.
The Disappearers starts with eight men in Jamaica in 1988 meeting in private to rehearse a play. The group are attacked by a violent mob, and for the survivors, recovery is as much emotional as it is physical. Through the lives of the men, the novel explores the realities of queer life in Jamaica during the 1980s and 1990s.
For his three influences, Marlon chose Jessica Hagedorn’s Dogeaters (1990), John Rechy’s The Sexual Outlaw (1977), and Roberto Bolaño’s The Savage Detectives (2007).
Producer: Rachael O’Neill
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

The award-winning writer Louise Kennedy speaks to Radio 4's Take Four Books about her latest novel, Stations, and, together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connections to three other literary works.
Stations follows Róisín McCaffrey as she meets and Red Camelin as a teenager in their small Irish hometown in 1982. Red's reputation for trouble precedes him – but Róisín finds herself swept up in his storm, and soon their connection deepens.
For her three influences Louise chose: I Could Read The Sky by Timothy O’Grady and Steve Pyke (1997); The Grass Arena by John Healey, now printed as a Penguin Classic, (1988); and J.D Salinger's Franny and Zooey (1961).
Louise Kennedy grew up a few miles from Belfast. She is the author of the acclaimed short-story collection, The End of the World Is A Cul de Sac which won the John McGahern Prize. Her debut novel Trespasses, published in 2022, has been translated into over twenty languages. It won Eason Novel of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards, Best Debut at the British Book Awards and the McKitterick Prize, and was also shortlisted for several awards including the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and Barnes and Noble Discover Prize.
In 2025, Trespasses was made into a limited TV series by Channel 4, starring Lola Petticrew, Tom Cullen and Gillian Anderson. Before starting her writing career, Kennedy spent nearly thirty years working as a chef. She lives in Sligo.
Producer: Dominic Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.