
Producer and writer John Yorke has worked in television and radio for 30 years, and he shares his experience with Radio 4 listeners as he unpacks the themes and impact behind the books, plays and stories that are being dramatised in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 116 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksArts | |||

In this second episode, John Yorke assesses the criticism levelled against James Fenimore Cooper’s 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans - primarily that it is responsible for the widely held, inaccurate, view that indigenous Americans were inevitably ... more
Published in 1826, the American writer James Fenimore Cooper’s novel The Last of the Mohicans is set during the French and Indian War, in 1750s North America. The story follows a group of British colonists trying to cross frontier land – and examines... more
Ian Sansom, sitting in for John Yorke, takes a look at Joy In the Morning, the 44th Jeeves and Wooster novel by PG Wodehouse. Published in 1946, it revolves around Bertie Wooster’s attempts to avoid a series of social and romantic calamities. The omn... more
John Yorke explores the revolutionary techniques developed by Jane Austen in Sense and Sensibility and uncovers why her work is so endlessly adaptable to modern tastes.
Austen innovated ‘free indirect style’, which blends third person narration wit... more
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Don’t you hate movie reviews that simply summarize the plot, spoilers and all? Well, usually that’s what happens in Opening Lines. Sigh
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Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Focusing on the intricate themes, historical contexts, and character developments of notable literary works, this podcast offers deep analyses of beloved novels and plays. Each episode typically features expert guests who contribute their insights, making complex literary discussions accessible to a broader audience. Episodes often explore not only the text itself but also the societal implications and personal experiences tied to the narratives, creating a rich tapestry of discussion surrounding classic literature.
With a blend of narrative analysis and scholarly critique, the content is likely to appeal to literature enthusiasts, students of the arts, and anyone interested in the interplay of story and society. The presence of both seaso... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Opening Lines:
1. Bookclub
2. Backlisted
3. Take Four Books
4. The TLS Podcast
5. A Good Read
Opening Lines launched 3 years ago and published 116 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Opening Lines include:
1. Natalie Haynes
2. Stephen Keyworth
3. Rebecca Romney
4. Emma Clery
5. Marina Lewycka
6. Simon Russell Beale
7. Benedict Andrews
8. Rosamund Bartlett
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