Damian Barr's Literary Salon

From the freshest debuts to the biggest bestsellers, this is where the world’s best writers read for the first time from their latest greatest books and share their own personal stories. Recent world premieres include ‘Hamnet’, ‘Again, Rachel’ and ‘Shuggie Bain’.

Enjoy our Book of the Week strand (formerly named Salon Exclusives), where each bite-size episode offers an exclusive taster of a new book. Or relax into an in-depth interview with one of your very favourite writers. Warm your heart with Armstead Maupin. Or hang on every word with Yaa Gyasi.

Hosted by writer and broadcaster, Damian Barr, and handpicked Guest Hosts, the Literary Salon live events and recordings celebrate storytelling and invite you to be part of it.


Produced and edited by Megan Bay Dorman. Programmed by Matt Casbourne. 

Books
51
Kit de Waal WORLD PREMIERE, at the Literary Salon
Enjoy the first interview and reading with award-winning author Kit, from her new book 'Without Warning And Only Sometimes'
43 min
52
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Jess Kidd reads from 'The Nigh...
‘Lyrical, haunting, a beautiful and elegant fictional interpretation of history' - Kate Mosse
13 min
53
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Sara El Sayed reads from ‘Mudd...
12 min
54
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Ali Millar reads from 'The La...
13 min
55
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Jill Nalder reads from ‘Love F...
Listen to the brilliant new memoir by 'the real Jill' from It's A Sin
16 min
56
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Schmidt reads from 'Blue...
14 min
57
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Rebecca Wait reads from 'I'm S...
'SO brilliant. A brutally funny and whip-smart novel. It'll easily be one of my Books of the Year.' - Hannah Beckerman
14 min
58
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Bolu Babalola reads from Honey...
12 min
59
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Claire Alexander reads from '...
14 min
60
SALON EXCLUSIVE: DBC Pierre reads from 'Big Sna...
Listen to an exclusive reading from the latest book from the Booker Prize winner
12 min
61
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Jenni Fagan reads from 'Hex'
An ambitious and powerfully poignant tale of one of the most turbulent moments in Scotland's history, the north Berwick witch trials.
18 min
62
SALON EXCLUSIVE: a reading from 'People Person'...
The latest book from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Queenie
10 min
63
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Dolen Perkins-Valdez reads fro...
From the New York Times bestselling author of 'Wench'
15 min
64
Abi Morgan WORLD PREMIERE, at the Literary Salo...
Listen to a world premiere from the BAFTA and Emmy-winning writer of The Split, Suffragette and more
44 min
65
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Julie Owen Moylan reads from T...
12 min
66
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Patrick McCabe reads from 'Po...
Enjoy an entertaining extract from twice Booker-shortlisted author Patrick McCabe
12 min
67
Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart in conversat...
85 min
68
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Adriana Trigiani reads from 'T...
A sun-drenched mid-century novel from the international bestselling author
13 min
69
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Joanna Cannon reads from 'A T...
13 min
70
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Yasmin Cordery Khan reads fro...
13 min
71
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Maggie Gee reads from 'The Red...
12 min
72
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Maddie Mortimer reads from 'M...
Listen to this 'original, memorable, shimmering' debut novel
15 min
73
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Lauren John Joseph reads from...
'A stone-cold masterpiece' OLIVIA LAING
13 min
74
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Lily Dunn reads from 'Sins of...
An extract from the dazzling new memoir that's 'a victory of self-knowledge and compassion'
13 min
75
SALON EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Gale reads from 'Moth...
10 min