An incomparable storyteller, lucid analyst and eloquent polemicist, acclaimed writer Amitav Ghosh’s rich body of fiction and non-fiction work has shaped our contemporary understanding of history and the environment.

Listen in as Amitav reflects on his career and range of bestselling books including the Ibis trilogy, ground-breaking non-fiction in The Great Derangement and The Nutmeg’s Curse and his newest novel Ghost-Eye, set in 1960s Calcutta.

Explore the themes of history, post-colonialism and environmentalism behind his ongoing work, in conversation with Michael Williams.

This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel. 

Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.

After more? Follow Sydney Writers’ Festival on social media:

Instagram: @sydwritersfest
Facebook: @SydWritersFest
TikTok: @sydwritersfest

An incomparable storyteller, lucid analyst and eloquent polemicist, acclaimed writer Amitav Ghosh&rsquo;s rich body of fiction and non-fiction work has shaped our contemporary understanding of history and the environment.
Listen in as Amitav reflects on his career and range of bestselling books including the Ibis trilogy, ground-breaking non-fiction in The Great Derangement and&nbsp;The Nutmeg&rsquo;s Curse&nbsp;and his newest novel Ghost-Eye, set in 1960s Calcutta.
Explore the themes of history, post-colonialism and environmentalism behind his ongoing work, in conversation with Michael Williams.
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.&nbsp;
Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media:
Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest

Australia's largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Bringing together the world's best authors, leading public intellectuals, scientists, journalists and more. Subscribe to our channel for new releases.

Australia's largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Bringing together the world's best authors, leading public intellectuals, scientists, journalists and more. Subscribe to our channel for new releases.

Australia's largest celebration of writing and ideas.

Sydney Writers' Festival

Australia's largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Bringing together the world's best authors, leading public intellectuals, scientists, journalists and more.

Amitav Ghosh in Conversation

[Content warning: Family violence]

Instant bestseller and “best debut novel in years” (The Sunday Times) starts in a literal and metaphorical storm.

While registering her son’s birth, Cora faces a decision that could change his life: what will she name him? Her options – Bear, Julian or Gordon – each come with their own legacies, expectations and risks. In The Names, novelist Florence Knapp tells a powerful story of darkness and hope through three vastly different versions of a boy’s life.

Explore the profound force of family with Florence, in conversation with ABC Radio National’s Claire Nichols (The Book Show).

This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel. 

Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.

After more? Follow Sydney Writers’ Festival on social media:

Instagram: @sydwritersfest
Facebook: @SydWritersFest
TikTok: @sydwritersfest

[Content warning: Family violence]
Instant bestseller and &ldquo;best debut novel in years&rdquo; (The Sunday Times) starts in a literal and metaphorical storm.
While registering her son&rsquo;s birth, Cora faces a decision that could change his life: what will she name him? Her options &ndash; Bear, Julian or Gordon &ndash; each come with their own legacies, expectations and risks. In&nbsp;The Names, novelist Florence Knapp tells a powerful story of darkness and hope through three vastly different versions of a boy&rsquo;s life.
Explore the profound force of family with Florence, in conversation with ABC Radio National&rsquo;s Claire Nichols (The Book Show).
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.&nbsp;
Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media:
Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest

Florence Knapp: The Names

In a novel, the words on the page are our entrance into another’s mind. But sometimes it’s the space between the lines that define a character.

In David Szalay’s 2025 Booker Prize–winning Flesh, István is caught between the boundaries of Hungary and England, his teenage years and adulthood, his body and sense of self and desire and indifference. With spare, propulsive prose, David paints an intimate portrait of a man slowly unravelling as he asks profound questions about the strangeness of being.

Hear David trace the evolution of his singular novel and its protagonist, in conversation with Michelle de Kretser.

This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel. 

Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.

After more? Follow Sydney Writers’ Festival on social media:

Instagram: @sydwritersfest
Facebook: @SydWritersFest
TikTok: @sydwritersfest

In a novel, the words on the page are our entrance into another&rsquo;s mind. But sometimes it&rsquo;s the space between the lines that define a character.
In David Szalay&rsquo;s 2025 Booker Prize&ndash;winning Flesh, Istv&aacute;n is caught between the boundaries of Hungary and England, his teenage years and adulthood, his body and sense of self and desire and indifference. With spare, propulsive prose, David paints an intimate portrait of a man slowly unravelling as he asks profound questions about the strangeness of being.
Hear David trace the evolution of his singular novel and its protagonist, in conversation with Michelle de Kretser.
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival.&nbsp;If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.&nbsp;
Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media:
Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest

David Szalay: Flesh 

The history of the Kabul Inter-Continental Hotel is the history of a nation.

Built in 1969, it has stood through Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a civil war, a US invasion and waves of Taliban control. Legendary international war correspondent Lyse Doucet arrived at the ‘Inter-Con’ for the first time in 1988. The Finest Hotel in Kabul chronicles 40 years of visits, during which Lyse reported on events that made world news and formed intimate connections with the people of Kabul.

Listen as Lyse reflects on the story of modern Afghanistan as told by its people, in conversation with Debbie Whitmont.

This episode was recorded live at the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.  

Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.  

After more? Follow Sydney Writers’ Festival on social media: 
Instagram: @sydwritersfest 
Facebook: @SydWritersFest 
TikTok: @sydwritersfest 

The history of the Kabul Inter-Continental Hotel is the history of a nation.
Built in 1969, it has stood through Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a civil war, a US invasion and waves of Taliban control. Legendary international war correspondent Lyse Doucet arrived at the &lsquo;Inter-Con&rsquo; for the first time in 1988. The Finest Hotel in Kabul chronicles 40 years of visits, during which Lyse reported on events that made world news and formed intimate connections with the people of Kabul.
Listen as Lyse reflects on the story of modern Afghanistan as told by its people, in conversation with Debbie Whitmont.
This episode was recorded live at the 2026 Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival.&nbsp;
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel. &nbsp;
Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms. &nbsp;
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media:&nbsp; Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sydwritersfest/">@sydwritersfest</a>&nbsp; Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SydWritersFest">@SydWritersFest</a>&nbsp; TikTok:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sydwritersfest">@sydwritersfest</a>&nbsp;

Amitav Ghosh in Conversation

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