This episode of Backlisted features Andy, John and Nicky chatting about short stories and the perennial appeal of the form to both writers and readers. This is a sequel to the first Winter Reading show we posted in January. Books under discussion include Wendy Erskine's new collection Dance Move; The Voice in My Ear by Frances Leviston; Rupert Thomson's memoir This Party's Got to Stop; Randall Jarrell's Book of Stories; A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders; and, ahead of our full episode on her novel South Riding, coming next week, Pavements at Anderby by Winifred Holtby. Andy reads a story entitled ‘The Old Spot’ from the latter volume which has not been republished, anthologised or broadcast in full since its original appearance in 1937. (He promises to work on his Yorkshire accent in the meantime.)

Books mentioned:

Wendy Erskine - Dance Move
Frances Leviston - The Voice in My Ear
Rupert Thomson - This Party’s Got to Stop
Randall Jarrell - Randall Jarell’s Book of Stories
George Saunders - A Swim in a Pond in the Rain
Winifred Holtby - Remember, Remember! - Selected Stories