Main content

The Word Detective

Book of the Week

John Simpson's account of his time as a lexicographer and chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. Read by Nigel Anthony. Abridged by Libby Spurrier.

Available now

There are currently no available episodes

  • Listen to more Audio Books

    Including My Sister The Serial Killer, Queenie, The Flatshare and more.

  • Opening Lines

    John Yorke unpacks the themes behind the stories in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.

  • Interviews, previews and reviews

  • Featuring the best stories from the UK's finest writers

  • How many of these 100 Novels have you read?

    After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.

  • Finding Your Story

    Ten remarkable novels about identity: Which one will help you discover yourself?

  • Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.

Similar programmes

By genre:

By format: