You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy.

My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds.

The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that.

With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to

helping you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all

put together by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your life,

check out BBC Sounds. This is a download from the BBC. To find out more, visit BBC.com.ukuk slash radio four.

Hello on today's program, When Worlds Collide. I'll be finding out what happens when the atoms of a quantum

physicist bond with those of a writer. And as the man Booker Prize extends author eligibility,

we explore what the impact might be on writers and readers alike.

But first, Victoria Hislop,

who last joined me on Open Book to discuss her epic historical fiction, The Thread,

a novel that followed its predecessors, the island and the return, onto the bestseller lists on a wave of ecstatic reviews.

She's back with her latest project, a comprehensive, fascinating and extremely welcome collection of some of the best short stories ever written by women.

The story, subtitled, love, loss and the lives of women

features everyone from Catherine Mansfield to Ali Smith, Alice Monroe to Polly Samson

and offers in its near 800 pages concrete proof if it were needed

that women writers are as versatile as they are brilliant.

Victoria Hislop joins me now.

Victoria, welcome.

Thank you, Maria.

Why did you feel we needed this compendium?

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