Essential Listening for Writers

So begins the first of this year’s Reith Lectures with Dame Hilary Mantel on BBC Radio 4. You will know Mantel from her astonishing Tudor series (Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies) and any number of her other wonderful books.  In her lecture, she defends the role of the historical novelist and talks about her unique approach to writing from and about history.  Here’s a link to the BBC Radio 4 Player, as well as a transcript of the lecture, if you’re unable to listen.  I’m not a historical novelist, but I took so much away from this talk and am looking forward to the next one, next week:
UPDATE:  Here is a link to her second talk.