Across the Pond
Across the Pond is a podcast about the most discussed and anticipated books on both sides of the Atlantic. Texas indie bookstore owner Lori Feathers and UK publisher Sam Jordison bring their unique perspectives on the book business, local literary trends, and author news. In each episode Lori and Sam will also provide a critical take on an important book, discussing how it has been anticipated and received on either side of the pond. Exciting US and UK authors occasionally join Lori and Sam to talk about their work.
Episodes
108 episodes
109. Jonathan Coe, "The Proof of My Innocence"
We are joined by the brilliant writer Jonathan Coe to discuss his latest novel, The Proof of My Innocence, a pastiche of genre fiction and insightful critique of contemporary politics.
•
Episode 109
•
40:52
108. "The Frog in the Throat" by Markus Werner with translator Michael Hofmann
We brag about having poet, critic, and translator extraordinaire Michael Hofmann on the show, and then we talk to him about his latest work in translation, The Frog in the Throat by Markus Werner, out now from New York Review of Books Classics....
•
Episode 108
•
38:03
107. House of Fury by Evelio Rosero with translator Victor Meadowcroft
We celebrate prize winners: Galley Beggar Short Story Prize and Republic of Consciousness Prize, US & Canada!! And translator Victor Meadowcroft joins us to talk about House of Fury by Evelio Rosero out now from New Directions.
•
Episode 107
•
46:02
106. Jón Kalman Stefánsson, "Heaven and Hell"
It's prize shortlist season! And, we have a fascinating discussion with author Jón Kalman Stefánsson about Heaven and Hell, the first novel in his Icelandic trilogy, Heaven and Hell.
•
Episode 106
•
37:28
105. Steve Stern, "A Fool's Kabbalah"
Author Steve Stern joins us for his second appearance on the pod to talk about his latest novel, A Fool's Kabbalah, about one man's quest to recover Judaic texts following the ravages of WWII.
•
Episode 105
•
43:16
104. Ali Smith, "Gliff"
A new, indie friendly platform for buying e-books; we have a great discussion with the prolific and wonderous Ali Smith about her latest novel, Gliff!
•
Episode 104
•
41:47
103. Holly Pester, "The Lodgers"
We talk about our 2025 literary projects, and writer Holly Pester joins us to discuss her novel on the precarity of temporary living spaces, The Lodgers, Assembly Press's submssion for the 2024 Republic of Consciousness Prize, US & Canada.
•
Episode 103
•
46:03
102. "Wuthering Heights"
Sam and Lori discuss Emily Brontë's classic novel of revenge on the moors--Wuthering Heights! Does this novel live up to its reputation? We have a friendly difference of opinion.
•
Episode 102
•
43:10
101. Graeme Macrae Burnet, "A Case of Matricide"
A Doestoevsky short story goes viral on Tik-Tok, and we talk to A Case of Matricide author Graeme Macrae Burnet about proxies, accomplices, and doppelgangers in the not-so-quiet French town of Saint Louis.
•
Episode 101
•
36:05
100th Episode with Dan Wells
We celebrate this, our 100th episode! Thank you for listening! And we chat with publisher and book store owner, Dan Wells, to mark the occassion of the 20th anniversary of his wonderful literary press, Biblioasis.
•
Episode 100
•
44:55
99. Rita Bullwinkel, "Headshot"
The dying art of the honest book review; and Rita Bullwinkel is our guest to talk about her novel Headshot, which takes us into the lives and minds of eight young women competing at a boxing tournament in Reno, Nevada.
•
Episode 99
•
51:49
98. Rodrigo Fresán, "Melvill"
The Cure's Robert Smith continues legacy of writing songs rich with literary references; and we talk to author Rodrigo Fresán about his new novel Melvill, imagining the interior lives of Herman Melville and his father Allan, who had a significa...
•
Episode 98
•
42:49
97. Mark Haber, "Lesser Ruins"
The release of "Patriot,," Alexei Navalny's collected prison diaries; do book festivals still have value? And we are joined by Mark Haber, whose latest novel, Lesser Ruins, is a wonderfully funny and heartfelt story about a middle-aged college ...
•
Episode 97
•
52:46
96. Sam Mills, "The Watermark"
Our recent guest, Mark Bowles, makes the Goldsmiths Prize shortlist; reading, or not, at elite US colleges; and Sam Mills is our guest to talk about her very meta literary adventure novel.
•
Episode 96
•
49:39
95. Mark Bowles "All My Precious Madness"
Publishers' costs: printing vs AI; even more love for libraries; we chat with Mark Bowles about the erudite, grumpy narrator of his captivating new novel, All My Precious Madness.
•
Episode 95
•
53:02
94. Jamie Quatro, " Two-Step Devil"
National Novel Writing Month takes a hit for its position on AI; the 20th anniversary of a novel we love: Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell; and we visit with writer Jamie Quatro on her novel Two-Step Devil about an outsider art...
•
Episode 94
•
40:45
93. Noémi Kiss-Deáki, "Mary and the Rabbit Dream"
A home robbery is thwarted when the thief gets distracted by a book; what's the latest trend in book cover art?; and we talk to writer Noémi Kiss-Deáki on her novel Mary and the Rabbit Dream, based on the true story of Mary Toft, a woman believ...
•
Episode 93
•
46:51
92. Claire Kilroy, "Soldier Sailor"
Liverpool library defies riots and fire; the inaugural Inside Literary Prize; and writer Claire Kilroy joins us to talk about Soldier Sailor, her striking novel on the precarity and joy of early motherhood.Inside Literary Prize
•
Episode 92
•
51:33
91. Kazim Ali, "Indian Winter"
Scandal at the Hugo Awards; Do straight guys hate novels?; writer Kazim Ali is our guest to talk about his novel, Indian Winter, Coach House Books' submission for the 2024 Republic of Consciousness Prize, US & Canada.
•
Episode 91
•
46:53
90. J.L. Carr "A Month in the Country"
That controversial NYT Top 100 List; should a writer's life affect our appreciation of their work; Sam and Lori love J. L. Carr's A Month in the Country and count the ways!
•
Episode 90
•
1:05:41
89. Sarah Perry, "Enlightenment"
Librarian superheroes; dog-hair mittens; and we talk to author Sarah Perry about her fascinating new novel, Enlightenment.
•
Episode 89
•
57:15
88. Andrew O'Hagan, "Caledonian Road"
Arundhati Roy faces prison for a speech made fourteen years ago; summer reading plans; and, we talk to writer Andrew O'Hagan about his wonderfully capacious novel of contemporary London, Caledonian Road.
•
Episode 88
•
49:57
87. Clare Pollard, "The Modern Fairies"
Are debut novels failing to launch? And we talk to writer Clare Pollard about her latest novel, The Modern Fairies, on female literary salons during the reign of Louis XIV and how the retellings of old stories for the salons became some of our ...
•
Episode 87
•
54:07