This week, Toby Lichtig assesses the latest recreation of Bob Dylan, man and myth; and David Gallagher on an academic and spy who inspired the work of Javier Marias.

'A Complete Unknown', a film by James Mangold

'Scholar-Spy: The Worlds of Professor Sir Peter Russell', by Bruce Taylor

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Boris Dralyuk on a compelling portrait of the Black Sea port of Odesa, past and present; and Russell Williams is put in mind of the rumpled TV detective Columbo by a pacy French novel.

'Undefeatable: Odesa in Love and War', by Julian Evans

'Bristol', by Jean Echenoz

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Vanessa Curtis is entranced by the candour of the Bloomsbury set's photograph albums; and Emma Greensmith on the mythical creatures that fascinated the ancient world.

'The Bloomsbury Photographs", by Maggie Humm

'Centaurs and Snake-Kings: Hybrids and the Greek Imagination', by Jeremy McInerney

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, JS Barnes trembles in his boots before the latest incarnation of a classic vampire tale; and Mary C Flannery on the practical magic of the medieval kitchen.

'Nosferatu', various cinemas

'Recipes and Book Culture in England, 1350-1600', Carrie Griffin and Hannah Ryley, editors

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Alex Clark and Lucy Dallas look forward to 2025's most tempting reading, plan a Jane Austen road trip and resolve to sit up straight.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Simone Gubler ponders the contents of a dog's mind; and Tristram Fane Saunders praises the poet Wendy Cope's strengths and subtleties.

'The Happiness of Dogs: Why the Unexamined Life is Most Worth Living', by Mark Rowlands

'Collared: How We Made the Modern Dog', by Chris Pearson

'Collected Poems', by Wendy Cope

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This week, Catriona Seth goes in search of the mysterious last queen of France; and Maria Margaronis is entranced by the stage adaptation of a children's classic.

'Marie-Antoinette', by Charles-Éloi Vial

'Ballet Shoes', adapted by Kendall Feaver from Noel Streatfeild's novel, National Theatre, London, until February 22

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This week, novelist and playwright Caryl Phillips remembers his friendship with the magnificent James Baldwin; and Robert Potts on the ingenious return of George Smiley.

The works of James Baldwin

'Karla's Choice', a John le Carré novel, by Nick Harkaway

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Mary Beard squares up to the gorefest of Gladiator II; and Alan Hollinghurst in conversation at the Cambridge Literary Festival.

'Gladiator II', various cinemas

'Our Evenings', by Alan Hollinghurst

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Lauren Elkin on a Nobel Prize-winner's obsession with images; and Judith Flanders assesses bold claims about the origins of contemporary English.

'The Use of Photography', by Annie Ernaux and Marc Marie, translated by Alison L. Strayer

'La Langue Anglaise N'existe Pas: C’est du français mal prononcé', by Bernard Cerquiglini

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Toby Lichtig talks to the new Booker Prize-winner Samantha Harvey about her voyage to the stars; and TLS contributors choose their books of the year.

‘Orbital’, by Samantha Harvey

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Norma Clarke explores the world of 18th-century chameleon Mary Robinson; and Devoney Looser on a soccer player's passion for Virginia Woolf.

'Mary Robinson: Actress, mistress, writer, radical',  Chawton House, Chawton, Hampshire, until April 21, 2025 

'The Striker and the Clock: On Being in the Game', by Georgia Cloepfil

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Mary Beard reports on the American election from her billet on Pennysylvania Avenue; plus Regina Rini opens a can of temporal worms in a quest to cure worry.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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In a special interview, Lucy Dallas meets artist William Kentridge to explore his new set of films.

'Self-Portrait as a Coffee-Pot', by William Kentridge, available on Mubi

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This week, Oonagh Devitt Tremblay is intrigued by the multiple voices in Sarah Moss's new memoir; and Lucy Dallas speaks to artist William Kentridge.

'My Good Bright Wolf', by Sarah Moss

'Self-Portrait as a Coffee-Pot', by William Kentridge, streaming on Mubi 

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Yoojin Grace Wuertz celebrates this year’s Nobel Laureate in literature, South Korea’s Han Kang; and David Morley reads his new poem, and discusses the link between birds, music and poetry.

‘The Vegetarian’, ‘Human Acts’ and ‘Greek Lessons’, by Han Kang

‘Beethoven’s Yellowhammer’, by David Morley

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Lisa Hilton on the truth behind life as a 'grand horizontale'; and Juliette Bretan explores why Virginia Woolf served up boeuf en daube in To the Lighthouse.

'Kingmaker: Pamela Churchill Harriman’s astonishing life of seduction, intrigue and power', by Sonia Purnell

'Europe in British Literature and Culture', edited by Petra Rau and William T Rossiter

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Larry Wolff admires an opera propelled by drone warfare; and Edward Carey describes how a love of theatre inspired his new novel.

'Grounded', by Jeanine Tesori, libretto by George Brant, Metropolitan Opera, New York, until October 19

'Edith Holler', by Edward Carey

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, we start with Donna Summer and finish with a Scotch Woodcock, as Milo Nesbitt goes in search of the future of music, and Roger Domeneghetti sings the praises of a little fish with a big flavour.

'Futuromania: Electronic dreams, desiring machines and tomorrow's music today', by Simon Reynolds

'A Twist in the Tail: How the humble anchovy flavoured western cuisine', by Christopher Beckman

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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This week, Toby Lichtig previews the season’s fictional highlights; and Ann Manov on Sally Rooney’s latest gambit.

‘Creation Lake’, by Rachel Kushner

‘Intermezzo’, by Sally Rooney

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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