The Slightly Foxed Podcast Archives

‘I have so enjoyed your podcast . . .’

‘I have so enjoyed your podcast, it is like being in the room with you, and it is a very nice room - and good company to be in.’

‘I feel I’m getting to know you all quite well . . .’

‘My husband bought me a subscription to Slightly Foxed for Christmas. I absolutely love everything about it. How could I not, when my first issue included three (three!) of my favourite books? The Quincunx, The Uncommon Reader, and the under-rated Barnaby Rudge. I'm not sure whether the thing I enjoy most is finding new titles or discovering that some of your contributors are fans of my own discoveries. Due to the podcasts I feel I'm getting to know you all quite well. I particularly liked the feature recently on independent bookshops. As a retired librarian from the humanities department of a major city library, I always valued the opportunities I had to provide a specialist service to readers. Over the past decade the profession has almost disappeared. Your feature gave me hope that just as bookshops are rediscovering their true role, so one day libraries might do the same.’

‘I was first given a subscription as a present . . .’

‘I was first given a subscription as a present from my son and enjoyed it so much that I extended it to September 2020. I look forward to the magazine which makes me reread old friends. I really enjoy your podcasts (and appreciate the dogs' interventions as I have two dogs myself, one of whom barked angrily back to the podcast I listened to earlier!) which make me feel I know you personally. I have read and given away several of your beautiful books. They are such lovely things in themselves and I do appreciate having a bookmark built in as postcards and other bookmarks fall out so easily.’

‘I would love to pop into Hoxton Square . . .’

‘I would love to pop into Hoxton Square, sit at your kitchen table, and talk about books. Unfortunately, that is difficult because I live in Colorado. However, your monthly podcasts are the next best thing. I enjoy them so much and feel like all of you are becoming good friends. I look forward to your ‘visit’ in June.’

‘I’m so enjoying the SF podcasts . . .’

‘I'm so enjoying the SF podcasts. As someone living on their own there is something very comforting about pouring a glass of wine and listening to sparkling people eclectically wandering through their collective experiences, memories and literary wisdom. A brilliant idea.’

‘I have been listening to your podcast with delight . . .’

‘I have been listening to your podcast with delight. It has been an entertaining change from the usual sensationalism. It's great fun, like sitting with an erudite friend but not needing to contribute yourself. What could be better?’

Episode 7: A Window on the World

Gail, Steph and Anna go behind the scenes with booksellers Brett Wolstencroft of Daunt Books and Kathleen Smith of Topping & Co. Bath to talk about the reality and romance of life running two of the country’s finest bookshops. Andrew Hawkins recounts the tale of a London publisher who tried his hand at repping and ended up in a spot of bother with a drunken poet in Fife, and there’s the usual round-up of recommended reading and news from Hoxton Square.

39 minutes

‘I wish you were all sitting round my table . . .’

‘I wish you were all sitting round my table! I am sure you would be the best sort of visitors, and far and away the most interesting. Thank you for another super podcast, looking forward to the next one.’

‘Thank you for your podcast . . .’

‘Wonderful podcast! I found the bit about Edward Lear very touching and sad. How biographies reveal the hidden lives of others – we often cannot guess the inner battles our fellow humans face. Now off to read the SF essay about Lear... Thank you for your podcast; it's a real listening pleasure!’

‘Really enjoyed your sixth podcast. . .’

‘Really enjoyed your sixth podcast and delighted that Gail’s recommendation is yet another of my favourites! I think she recommended A Gentleman in Moscow last month, which I was riveted by as an audio book on a long drive - just loved it! And I’ve been raving about Tim Pears’ trilogy ever since I read The Horseman a year or so ago. Three of the most beautifully written books I’ve read in ages. The trouble with Slightly Foxed is that it brings up so many titles which appeal to me that I shall now have to live until I’m about 120 just to fit in all this reading! Keep them coming, though. Such treats in store.’

‘I discovered your world of Slightly Foxed . . .’

‘I discovered your world of Slightly Foxed at the start of my day today through an Instagram advert about your podcast. I instantly downloaded all six episodes and devoured the first two on my way to work this morning. It was incredibly charming, warm and comforting. I've never heard of a bookish podcast quite like this and I was utterly drawn in by the language and the feeling that I too, was sat around the kitchen table surrounded by tombs of musty books. Anyway, I just wanted to say that for an Asian Muslim girl in the Northern town of Bradford, it's incredible to gain such a wondrous insight into a world I only dream to work in. So thank you! (I'm going to purchase your latest issue so I can properly delve myself in the Slightly Foxed world.)’

‘Congratulations, I think the podcast is fantastic . . .’

‘Congratulations, I think the podcast is fantastic. I can't wait for the next one. Well done to all at Slightly Foxed.’

‘I have longed to be a member of Slightly Foxed . . .’

‘I have longed to be a member of Slightly Foxed but have always been held back by the poor exchange rate of the Canadian Dollar. But, having listened to the podcast episodes repeatedly whenever I am in need of a kitchen table book talk (probably too many times to admit, though I have decided to stop when I know them off by heart) I felt I needed to take the plunge. Thank you again.’

‘Loving the podcasts . . .’

‘Loving the podcasts. Spent evening alone in kitchen, drinking wine and catching up with them. Bliss.’

‘I could listen to your podcasts all day . . .’

‘I could listen to your podcasts all day. They are soothing and stimulating at the same time.’

‘I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the podcast . . .’

‘I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the podcast - full of useful recommendations and links. Beautifully produced - music, readings and literary gossip. I am going to revisit podcasts 1 to 4 now to make sure I have not missed anything. Please continue to make them as well as the quarterlies.’