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The Documentary Podcast

Thomas Keneally: What’s next for the Schindler’s List author?

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Documentary, Society & Culture

4.32.7K Ratings

🗓️ 18 May 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Rachel Naylor visits the Booker Prize-winning author Thomas Keneally in his home in Sydney, Australia, to see how he writes his latest book. He gives Rachel a tour of his neighbourhood Manly, a seaside suburb in the Northern Beaches, famous for its ferry, surfing and his beloved Sea Eagles, the rugby league team. Rachel accompanies Thomas, known for writing Schindler’s List, on his daily walk around North Head, in Sydney Harbour National Park, taking in the breathtaking views, navigating the swamp and avoiding the spiders. Thomas, who has written more than 50 books, shows Rachel round his library and they discuss ageing, feeling adrift and his first rejection. As he contemplates retirement, he also talks about his recent ill health and how he wants to write the best book written by someone aged over 90. This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from In the Studio, exploring the processes of the world’s most creative people.

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts.

0:07.3

On BBC Sounds, there are podcasts to help you look after your body and your mind.

0:12.7

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0:16.6

Or tips on how to focus.

0:18.5

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0:19.7

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0:22.6

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0:24.2

With What's Up Docs.

0:25.9

And Complex with Kimberly Wilson.

0:27.9

Listen on BBC Sounds. This is the documentary in the studio from the BBC World Service.

0:44.2

I'm Rachel Naylor.

0:47.5

It's March 2026 and I'm in Sydney, Australia, meeting the author Thomas Caneli, as he writes what could potentially be his last book.

0:57.6

He's best known for writing Schindler's Ark,

1:00.6

the book behind Schindler's list,

1:02.4

for which he won the International Booker Prize.

1:06.2

Thomas is now 90, and he lives in Manley,

1:09.0

a hilly suburb in the north of the city, surrounded by beaches

1:12.1

and the Sydney Harbour National Park.

1:16.3

This is my first work trip outside of England and I've really landed on my feet. It's basically

1:23.0

paradise. It's lunchtime on a beautiful sunny Tuesday and Thomas is meeting me on the Corso, a bustling

1:31.3

main street by the promenade. There's children playing in the fountains, there's people

1:36.7

queuing for gelato, and up there there's couples having drinks in a rooftop bar overlooking

...

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