A real person? As in a REAL person? The cheek of it!

This month we’re looking at great (as in bold, irreverent, inventive, insightful…) examples of authors using real historical individuals as overt basis for their characters. We’re not talking vaguely inspired by, but names and all, although – as we will see – a name can be deceiving. How much is ever real in fiction? And how much is ever made up?

Olivia Laing, author of art-memoir gems such as The Lonely City and The Trip to Echo Spring, joins us to talk about her first novel, Crudo, who uses the persona of artist/writer Kathy Acker as her narrator.

Hosted by Jessica Johannesson. Music: ‘Declaration’ by The Bookshop Band.

Now take a look at our Magpies of Fiction reading list

Check out previous episodes of the podcast