The Millstone by Margaret Drabble

Backlisted

Backlisted Podcast

Hobbies, Leisure, Books, Arts

4.7 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 17 July 2023

⏱️ 63 minutes

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Summary

Novelist Linda Grant and critic and editor Lucy Scholes return to Backlisted for a discussion of Margaret Drabble's third novel The Millstone, a book which has remained in print ever since it was first published in 1965, when Drabble was 26 years old; it was adapted for the screen by the author herself in 1969 as A Touch of Love, starring Sandy Dennis, Eleanor Bron and, making his film debut, Sir Ian McKellen. This story of a shy but determined young woman's decision to keep her baby and raise the child alone remains as relevant as ever. But The Millstone also speaks volumes of the era in which it was written, during which Margaret Drabble was a rising star in the literary firmament; and Andy, John, Linda and Lucy were delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate both novel and author, who is now 84. * To purchase any of the books mentioned in this episode please visit our bookshop at uk.bookshop.org/shop/backlisted where all profits help to sustain this podcast and UK independent bookshops. * For information about everything mentioned in this episode visit www.backlisted.fm *If you'd like to support the show, listen without adverts, receive the show early and with extra bonus fortnightly episodes, become a Patreon at www.patreon.com/backlisted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to Backlisted, the podcast which gives new life to old books. Today, you
0:29.5	find us on Marathon High Street in London sometime in the mid 1960s, but all somewhat worried looking
0:36.1	women emerges from unwinds, catching a large bottle wrapped in tissue paper. She stares idly into
0:42.1	shot windows as she passes, her steps quickening as the evening darkens. I'm John Mitchinson, the publisher
0:48.7	on Bound where people crowdfund the books they really want to read. I'm Andy Miller, the author of
0:54.3	The Year of Reading Dangerously, and today we are joined by two returning guests. Welcome back, Linda
1:00.1	Grant and Lucy Skoles. Thank you for having us. Linda, say hello. Oh, hi. It's like you're watching
1:09.0	Telly, Linda. Well, anyway, welcome back. Now, Linda Grant, first joined us on our second ever episode,
1:22.0	which was about Gene Reese's Good Morning Midnight. And so we owe you a huge debt of thanks, Linda,
1:28.2	for starting this enterprise so stylishly. That's still one of the most popular episodes about
1:35.6	listed, which is wonderful for us and wonderful for the Amis Reese. And we can only apologise
1:42.5	profusely that it's taken eight years for us to bring you back. So thank you so much for being here.
1:49.1	Linda is the author of nine novels and full works of nonfiction. She's won the Orange Price
1:54.2	Affection, the South Bank show award, the Wingate Prize, and been shortlisted for the Booker Price
1:59.4	Affection, and this year's George Orwell Prize. Her latest novel, The Story of the Forest, was
2:05.7	published in May, and moved Nigella Lawson to write, I'm in awe, I'm charmed, and I want to press
2:13.2	a copy on everyone I know. Linda, were you expecting Nigella to say that, or was that a delightful surprise?
2:21.8	She's a good woman, let's put it that way. I'm very grateful to her. She asked for a signed copy
2:28.8	as well. That's amazing. After she bred it. Oh, well, listen, thank you so much for coming back,
2:34.2	we're so pleased to have you. It's a pleasure. And also, we're also delighted to welcome back for
2:39.2	what is apparently her fifth appearance on that list is Friend of the Show, Lucy Skolls. Hello,
2:44.1	Lucy. Hi, it's very nice to have you. Hi, yeah.
	...

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