In our summer books special, we sit down with two brilliant writers. First we hear from Scottish author and screenwriter John Niven, whose moving 2023 memoir ‘O Brother’ is now out in paperback. Then we meet first-time novelist Mariel Franklin, whose debut, ‘Bonding’, is a smart, pertinent book about sex, technology and friendship.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We highlight three events that should be on your radar, starting with a trip to London’s Royal Academy of Arts to explore Ukrainian modernism. Then we head to the south of France for this year’s edition of a major summer photography festival, before hearing from US artist Lonnie Holley at his new show at London’s Camden Art Centre, ‘All Rendered Truth’.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alongside General Motors, partner of ‘Monocle on Culture’, we share the third and final part in our series of special programmes. In this episode, we finish our Côte d’Azur road trip in Cannes and explore the relationship between the city, cars and the film world. Plus: we find out how the elegant style of the Carlton Cannes staff has been influenced by cinema over the years.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.