James Crawford
@jdcrawf.bsky.social
THE EDGE OF THE PLAIN @canongatebooks @wwnorton | WILD HISTORY @BirlinnBooks | Presenter @BBCRadio4 TAKE FOUR BOOKS | Editor @PolygonBooks | CHAIR of the Board @edbookfest jamescrawford.space
Pinned
James Crawford
@jdcrawf.bsky.social
· Dec 12
BBC Sounds - Take Four Books - Available Episodes
Listen to the latest episodes of Take Four Books on BBC Sounds.
www.bbc.co.uk
I’m hosting a new books program on BBC Radio 4, on Sundays at 4pm, and also on BBC Sounds!
It’s called TAKE FOUR BOOKS, and here it is! 👇📻🎧
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...
It’s called TAKE FOUR BOOKS, and here it is! 👇📻🎧
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...
Today on #TakeFourBooks on BBCR4 I was talking to Karl Ove Knausgaard about new novel THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT and 3 ‘Faustian’ influences incl Thomas Mann & the memoir of @willsergeant.com from @bunnymen.com! Listen now! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
November 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Today on #TakeFourBooks on BBCR4 I was talking to Karl Ove Knausgaard about new novel THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT and 3 ‘Faustian’ influences incl Thomas Mann & the memoir of @willsergeant.com from @bunnymen.com! Listen now! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by James Crawford
I was very restrained at the bookshop this morning but excited to read both of these. One inspired by last week’s conversation between Katherine Randell and @jdcrawf.bsky.social and the other a delightful discovery ready for Advent.
November 17, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I was very restrained at the bookshop this morning but excited to read both of these. One inspired by last week’s conversation between Katherine Randell and @jdcrawf.bsky.social and the other a delightful discovery ready for Advent.
Loved having brill @olgaravn.bsky.social on BBCR4’s #TakeFourBooks today - talking about her new novel THE WAX CHILD & 3 influences inc M.R. James and a book of southern Italian spells! 📚📻🎧https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002m96r
November 16, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Loved having brill @olgaravn.bsky.social on BBCR4’s #TakeFourBooks today - talking about her new novel THE WAX CHILD & 3 influences inc M.R. James and a book of southern Italian spells! 📚📻🎧https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002m96r
Reposted by James Crawford
Listen again to this year’s Booker Prize winning author, David Szalay, on Take Four Books on #BBCRadio4 - talking about Flesh and the three other books that inspired its creation! @thebookerprizes.com #BookerPrize2025 #DavidSzalay
Take Four Books - David Szalay - BBC Sounds
David Szalay talks about his new novel and the three other works that helped to shape it.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Listen again to this year’s Booker Prize winning author, David Szalay, on Take Four Books on #BBCRadio4 - talking about Flesh and the three other books that inspired its creation! @thebookerprizes.com #BookerPrize2025 #DavidSzalay
Reposted by James Crawford
This week in Books on Podcasts, a special Waterstones episode featured Rebecca Kuang and Samantha Shannon, while Take Four Books featured its first children’s book with Katherine Rundell’s The Poisoned King 👇 #BookSky
Books on Podcasts: fantasy reigns, Katherine Rundell and Rebecca Kuang on their latest work
ebx.sh
November 13, 2025 at 2:23 PM
This week in Books on Podcasts, a special Waterstones episode featured Rebecca Kuang and Samantha Shannon, while Take Four Books featured its first children’s book with Katherine Rundell’s The Poisoned King 👇 #BookSky
Reposted by James Crawford
Loved this episode exploring the importance of fantasy, storytelling an imagination. ‘The Prince Caspian’ choice reminded me of Jem Bloomfield’s book ‘Gold on the Horizon’ which follows the Take Four books USP by tracing Lewis’ literary influences in Caspian and Dawn Treader.
If you are interested in books, reading and the power of story, then listen to this BBC R4 chat I had with the brilliant Katherine Rundell. We're talking about her new @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social novel The Poisoned King, but much more too, from Hamlet to Le Guin! 📚👇🎧
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
November 10, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Loved this episode exploring the importance of fantasy, storytelling an imagination. ‘The Prince Caspian’ choice reminded me of Jem Bloomfield’s book ‘Gold on the Horizon’ which follows the Take Four books USP by tracing Lewis’ literary influences in Caspian and Dawn Treader.
Reposted by James Crawford
love this series
a relief to have focus on one book and its origins
poking behind the scenes is great
a relief to have focus on one book and its origins
poking behind the scenes is great
Listen now to my BBC Radio 4 chat with Chris Kraus on her new “true-crime” novel THE FOUR SPENT THE DAY TOGETHER & her 3 influences including Norman Mailer & Phil Neel 📚🎧👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
November 10, 2025 at 11:43 AM
love this series
a relief to have focus on one book and its origins
poking behind the scenes is great
a relief to have focus on one book and its origins
poking behind the scenes is great
If you are interested in books, reading and the power of story, then listen to this BBC R4 chat I had with the brilliant Katherine Rundell. We're talking about her new @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social novel The Poisoned King, but much more too, from Hamlet to Le Guin! 📚👇🎧
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
November 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
If you are interested in books, reading and the power of story, then listen to this BBC R4 chat I had with the brilliant Katherine Rundell. We're talking about her new @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social novel The Poisoned King, but much more too, from Hamlet to Le Guin! 📚👇🎧
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by James Crawford
I read The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller after listening to Take Four Books presented by @jdcrawf.bsky.social & I’ve listened again. TFB is an excellent concept & excellent in reality! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Take Four Books - Andrew Miller - BBC Sounds
Andrew Miller on his new book, The Land in Winter, and its links to three other works.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 10:11 PM
I read The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller after listening to Take Four Books presented by @jdcrawf.bsky.social & I’ve listened again. TFB is an excellent concept & excellent in reality! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Listen now to my BBC Radio 4 chat with Chris Kraus on her new “true-crime” novel THE FOUR SPENT THE DAY TOGETHER & her 3 influences including Norman Mailer & Phil Neel 📚🎧👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
October 26, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Listen now to my BBC Radio 4 chat with Chris Kraus on her new “true-crime” novel THE FOUR SPENT THE DAY TOGETHER & her 3 influences including Norman Mailer & Phil Neel 📚🎧👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I was on Radio4's Front Row last night with @nationalgalleries.bsky.social Louise Pearson talking about NGS exhibition of Alfred Buckham's aerial photography & my own experience of taking to the sky in open cockpit (I also wrote intro to the exhibition catalogue!)
🎧👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
🎧👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
October 16, 2025 at 11:13 AM
I was on Radio4's Front Row last night with @nationalgalleries.bsky.social Louise Pearson talking about NGS exhibition of Alfred Buckham's aerial photography & my own experience of taking to the sky in open cockpit (I also wrote intro to the exhibition catalogue!)
🎧👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
🎧👇
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Today on #TakeFourBooks Booker-winner John Banville is talking about his new @faberbooks.bsky.social
novel 'Venetian Vespers' & 3 haunting, Venice-based influences, including (stories & films) Don't Look Now & Death in Venice!
Listen now!👇🎧📚
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
novel 'Venetian Vespers' & 3 haunting, Venice-based influences, including (stories & films) Don't Look Now & Death in Venice!
Listen now!👇🎧📚
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
October 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Today on #TakeFourBooks Booker-winner John Banville is talking about his new @faberbooks.bsky.social
novel 'Venetian Vespers' & 3 haunting, Venice-based influences, including (stories & films) Don't Look Now & Death in Venice!
Listen now!👇🎧📚
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
novel 'Venetian Vespers' & 3 haunting, Venice-based influences, including (stories & films) Don't Look Now & Death in Venice!
Listen now!👇🎧📚
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by James Crawford
Thank you, @jdcrawf.bsky.social ! Listen again to this episode, the Start The Week ep James mentions, and all the other excellent radio Picks of the Week on @bbcsounds.bsky.social
My PICK OF THE WEEK!
Mexican gothic, railways, distortion, immortalists, unfolding landscapes & JMW Turner ft @petroc.bsky.social, @silviamg.bsky.social, @kermodemovie.bsky.social, @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social, @alekskrotoski.bsky.social, @adamrutherford.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Mexican gothic, railways, distortion, immortalists, unfolding landscapes & JMW Turner ft @petroc.bsky.social, @silviamg.bsky.social, @kermodemovie.bsky.social, @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social, @alekskrotoski.bsky.social, @adamrutherford.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Pick of the Week, James Crawford
James Crawford presents a selection of the best bits of audio across the BBC.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Thank you, @jdcrawf.bsky.social ! Listen again to this episode, the Start The Week ep James mentions, and all the other excellent radio Picks of the Week on @bbcsounds.bsky.social
My PICK OF THE WEEK!
Mexican gothic, railways, distortion, immortalists, unfolding landscapes & JMW Turner ft @petroc.bsky.social, @silviamg.bsky.social, @kermodemovie.bsky.social, @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social, @alekskrotoski.bsky.social, @adamrutherford.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Mexican gothic, railways, distortion, immortalists, unfolding landscapes & JMW Turner ft @petroc.bsky.social, @silviamg.bsky.social, @kermodemovie.bsky.social, @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social, @alekskrotoski.bsky.social, @adamrutherford.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Pick of the Week, James Crawford
James Crawford presents a selection of the best bits of audio across the BBC.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM
My PICK OF THE WEEK!
Mexican gothic, railways, distortion, immortalists, unfolding landscapes & JMW Turner ft @petroc.bsky.social, @silviamg.bsky.social, @kermodemovie.bsky.social, @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social, @alekskrotoski.bsky.social, @adamrutherford.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Mexican gothic, railways, distortion, immortalists, unfolding landscapes & JMW Turner ft @petroc.bsky.social, @silviamg.bsky.social, @kermodemovie.bsky.social, @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social, @alekskrotoski.bsky.social, @adamrutherford.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
This week on #TakeFourBooks on BBC Radio 4 I was talking to William Boyd about his new spy novel 'The Predicament' and 3 influences Lawrence Durrell, Len Deighton and John Le Carre - also with guest @louisewelsh00.bsky.social - listen now!
👇🎧📚
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
👇🎧📚
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
September 29, 2025 at 10:19 AM
This week on #TakeFourBooks on BBC Radio 4 I was talking to William Boyd about his new spy novel 'The Predicament' and 3 influences Lawrence Durrell, Len Deighton and John Le Carre - also with guest @louisewelsh00.bsky.social - listen now!
👇🎧📚
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
👇🎧📚
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Coming up later today on BBC Radio 4 I'm talking to Graham Norton on #TakeFourBooks about his latest novel Frankie, along with 3 influences - Elizabeth Bowen, Armistead Maupin & Gabrielle Zevin (and bonus influence Charlie Brown!) - at 4pm 👇🎧📚
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
September 21, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Coming up later today on BBC Radio 4 I'm talking to Graham Norton on #TakeFourBooks about his latest novel Frankie, along with 3 influences - Elizabeth Bowen, Armistead Maupin & Gabrielle Zevin (and bonus influence Charlie Brown!) - at 4pm 👇🎧📚
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by James Crawford
Take Four Books
@jdcrawf.bsky.social on R4 Sundays 4pm, always worth listening to. Sunday 14th Sept on Ian McEwan with @damedenisemina.bsky.social on Sounds particularly so.
@jdcrawf.bsky.social on R4 Sundays 4pm, always worth listening to. Sunday 14th Sept on Ian McEwan with @damedenisemina.bsky.social on Sounds particularly so.
September 20, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Take Four Books
@jdcrawf.bsky.social on R4 Sundays 4pm, always worth listening to. Sunday 14th Sept on Ian McEwan with @damedenisemina.bsky.social on Sounds particularly so.
@jdcrawf.bsky.social on R4 Sundays 4pm, always worth listening to. Sunday 14th Sept on Ian McEwan with @damedenisemina.bsky.social on Sounds particularly so.
Loved talking to Ian McEwan (& @damedenisemina.bsky.social!) on BBCRadio4
#TakeFourBooks about climate, memory & the way the past haunts the present in his new @jonathancape.bsky.social novel WHAT WE CAN KNOW with 3 influences incl the epic
Footsteps by Richard Holmes
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
#TakeFourBooks about climate, memory & the way the past haunts the present in his new @jonathancape.bsky.social novel WHAT WE CAN KNOW with 3 influences incl the epic
Footsteps by Richard Holmes
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
September 14, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Loved talking to Ian McEwan (& @damedenisemina.bsky.social!) on BBCRadio4
#TakeFourBooks about climate, memory & the way the past haunts the present in his new @jonathancape.bsky.social novel WHAT WE CAN KNOW with 3 influences incl the epic
Footsteps by Richard Holmes
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
#TakeFourBooks about climate, memory & the way the past haunts the present in his new @jonathancape.bsky.social novel WHAT WE CAN KNOW with 3 influences incl the epic
Footsteps by Richard Holmes
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Reposted by James Crawford
Thanks to Radio 4's Take Four Books I'm re-reading The Bone People (Keri Hulme) about forty years after the first (and second) time. And it's still absolutely brilliant, so thank you for reminding me, Melissa Lucashenko and @jdcrawf.bsky.social
September 13, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Thanks to Radio 4's Take Four Books I'm re-reading The Bone People (Keri Hulme) about forty years after the first (and second) time. And it's still absolutely brilliant, so thank you for reminding me, Melissa Lucashenko and @jdcrawf.bsky.social
Listen now to my chat with Melissa Lucashenko on Radio4's #TakeFourBooks about her latest @oneworldbooks.bsky.social novel 'Edenglassie' and 3 influences incl Keri Hulme & Sebastian Barry (recorded with @rodgeglass.bsky.social & live audience at @edbookfest.bsky.social) www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
August 31, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Listen now to my chat with Melissa Lucashenko on Radio4's #TakeFourBooks about her latest @oneworldbooks.bsky.social novel 'Edenglassie' and 3 influences incl Keri Hulme & Sebastian Barry (recorded with @rodgeglass.bsky.social & live audience at @edbookfest.bsky.social) www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Listen to my chat with Sarah Hall on #TakeFourBooks on BBC Radio4 discussing new @faberbooks.bsky.social novel HELM (the first book to have a wind as its main character?) & 3 influences incl George Saunders & Angela Carter. With Alan McMunnigall of @thiwurd.bsky.social! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
August 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Listen to my chat with Sarah Hall on #TakeFourBooks on BBC Radio4 discussing new @faberbooks.bsky.social novel HELM (the first book to have a wind as its main character?) & 3 influences incl George Saunders & Angela Carter. With Alan McMunnigall of @thiwurd.bsky.social! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Listen now on BBC Radio4 to my chat with Rachel Kushner and live audience @edbookfest.bsky.social for #TakeFourBooks - talking about Creation Lake and 3 influences including Nabokov's Pale Fire and radical 1970s French crime noir! Also with @andrewmeehanesq.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
August 17, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Listen now on BBC Radio4 to my chat with Rachel Kushner and live audience @edbookfest.bsky.social for #TakeFourBooks - talking about Creation Lake and 3 influences including Nabokov's Pale Fire and radical 1970s French crime noir! Also with @andrewmeehanesq.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Listen now to @irvinewelsh.bsky.social on #TakeFourBooks on BBC Radio 4 - talking Trainspotting sequel 'Men In Love' and his 3 influences, no less than James Joyce, Marcel Proust and Bill Shakespeare! Also with guest @kirstininnes.bsky.social
🎧📚👇
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
🎧📚👇
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
August 10, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Listen now to @irvinewelsh.bsky.social on #TakeFourBooks on BBC Radio 4 - talking Trainspotting sequel 'Men In Love' and his 3 influences, no less than James Joyce, Marcel Proust and Bill Shakespeare! Also with guest @kirstininnes.bsky.social
🎧📚👇
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
🎧📚👇
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Come and be part of a live Take Four Books audience this Saturday at Edinburgh International Book Festival - I’m talking to Rachel Kushner about her Booker-shortlisted Creation Lake and 3 influences! Book your FREE tickets here 👇 www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...
BBC at Edinburgh International Book Festival | Edinburgh International Book Festival
Information on how you can get involved in BBC radio recordings happening at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
www.edbookfest.co.uk
August 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Come and be part of a live Take Four Books audience this Saturday at Edinburgh International Book Festival - I’m talking to Rachel Kushner about her Booker-shortlisted Creation Lake and 3 influences! Book your FREE tickets here 👇 www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...
A joy to commission this from Graeme Macrae Burnet - and fantastic to now see it making its way out into the world…
COVER REVEAL: ‘It is dark now and my window onto the world is a small one. I do not know how much longer I will be here…’
Introducing BENBECULA by Graeme Macrae Burnet – out in the UK on 2 October 2025 from @birlinn.bsky.social 📚 🌑🌕🌑✨
Pre-order now: www.waterstones.com/book/benbecu...
Introducing BENBECULA by Graeme Macrae Burnet – out in the UK on 2 October 2025 from @birlinn.bsky.social 📚 🌑🌕🌑✨
Pre-order now: www.waterstones.com/book/benbecu...
July 28, 2025 at 12:56 PM
A joy to commission this from Graeme Macrae Burnet - and fantastic to now see it making its way out into the world…