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Episode details

Radio 4,17 Apr 2011,30 mins

17/04/2011

Open Book

Available for over a year

Mariella Frostrup talks to former journalist Annalena McAfee about her novel The Spoiler, a story set against the excesses of modern journalism, and featuring not one but two feisty female protagonists. She also looks back at literary precursors to McAfee's novel, from Evelyn Waugh's Scoop onwards, with the help of former newspaper editor Max Hastings and novelist DJ Taylor. Plus, American writer Steve Hely on penning a novel all about trying to write a best-selling novel - and what it tells us about our literary pretensions today. PRODUCER: HILARY DUNN.

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