Books on the Radio this Christmas

While you’re home now and you have a few days to spare you may be hoping to dedicate more time than usual to your bookish pursuits, the problem is it’s such a busy time that it’s hard to find time to sit and read. Well thankfully Radio 4 are on hand to help this year with some fantastic audience versions of our favourite books.

It’s always worth checking the iPlayer for bookish shows on BBC Radio 4, my personal favourite is Book at Bedtime, but over the festive season there’s even more than usual, including two particular shows that I can’t wait to tune in for!

Right now BBC Radio 4 are broadcasting Terry Pratchett’s Small Gods in several episodes. The Discworld adventure is read by Anton Lesser and Carl Prekopp, and while some episodes have already aired, you can catch the whole thing here on the iPlayer.

Then on 22nd December is the next episode of the 15 minute drama Northanger Abbey, the satirical look at Gothic fiction by Jane Austen. This is also serialised and we’re up to episode 10, but you can listen to this, read by Hattie Taylor, on the iPlayer here.

So even if you don’t have time to read much over the festive season, play one of these in the background while you’re peeling the sprouts and have them read to you, in the wonderful BBC style the broadcasting house does so well!