Jake talked to The Books That Built Me about six authors that inspired his writing, from Blake's depiction of London in Songs of Innocence and Experience, to the allure of pirates in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, and how Patricia Highsmith sparked a fascination with elegant sociopaths.

Sarah Perry is the author of the best-selling and award-winning The Essex Serpent : she and I discussed the passions and obsessions behind that novel, as well as about six books that inspired her as a writer, from Hilary Mantel's memoir, Giving up the Ghost, to Foxe's Book of Martyrs Jake Arnott's latest novel, The Fatal Tree, tells the story of Edgworth Bess and her Moll-Flanders-esque life in the heart of the 18th century criminal underworld.

In this episode Sara Manning talks to Helen Brocklebank about the regency books of Georgette Heyer.

Ticky Hedley-Dent by Helen Brocklebank

Janet Ellis talks about the books that have inspired her writing: The Golden Treasury of Poetry, National Velvet, The Bad Seed, Strangers on a Train, Good Behaviour and Candia McWilliams What To Look for In Winter

Sarah Churchwell by Helen Brocklebank

Lionel Shriver and Professor Sarah Churchwell in conversation about one of the strangest U.S. elections in living memory, whether the Trump phenomenon has any historical precedent, and what the future holds. Recorded at Mark's Club, Mayfair, 12th October 2016.

Jill Dawson by Helen Brocklebank

Louisa Treger, author of The Lodger, talks about forgotten modernist pioneer Dorothy Richardson, her work and her relationship with H.G.Wells.

In this episode Alex and Helen talk about the genre of Memoir