17 November 2025

28 minutes

Available for over a year

THE YEARS by Annie Ernaux chosen by Richard Benson

THE CORNER THAT HELD THEM by Sylvia Townsend Warner chosen by Amy Sackville

COFFEE AND CIGARETTES by Ferdinand von Schirach chosen by Harriett Gilbert

Writer and former editor of the Face Richard Benson talks to fellow writer Amy Sackville and presenter Harriett Gilbert about favourite books.

Richard chooses The Years by Nobel Laureate Annie Ernaux, saying it brings back memories of his French penpal's bohemian mother. Amy's choice of The Corner that Held Them by Sylvia Townsend Warner, about convent life in the 1300s, isn't as dry as that might sound, and Harriett's pick is Coffee and Cigarettes by German criminal defence lawyer Ferdinand von Schirach.

Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven

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