DiscoverBookclubKit de Waal
Kit de Waal

Kit de Waal

Update: 2025-08-03
Share

Description

Presented by James Naughtie, BBC Radio 4's Bookclub, speaks to the award-winning writer Kit de Waal about her heart-rending debut novel, My Name Is Leon. Published in 2016 by Penguin it's the story of two brothers separated after one is adopted. The book, now taught on the curriculum in English schools, takes us back to 1980s Birmingham, and while brothers Leon and Jake share the same mother, Carol, their futures look very different. Jake is adopted, while Leon remains in foster care. The story follows Leon over the course of one difficult year in his life, and when he's given a bike it opens up his horizons. He often goes to the local allotments, where he meets the characters of Mr Devlin and Tufty, and sees a different slice of life.

This recording takes place at the Rare Birds Bookshop in Edinburgh.

Producer: Dominic Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

Comments 
loading
In Channel
John Niven

John Niven

2025-10-0529:44

Paula Hawkins

Paula Hawkins

2025-09-0729:54

Kit de Waal

Kit de Waal

2025-08-0328:40

Tom Holland

Tom Holland

2025-07-0629:29

Natalie Haynes

Natalie Haynes

2025-05-0429:26

Michel Faber

Michel Faber

2025-04-0628:55

Christopher Brookmyre

Christopher Brookmyre

2025-03-0229:16

Sara Collins

Sara Collins

2025-02-0230:44

Richard Osman

Richard Osman

2025-01-0530:42

Ayobami Adebayo

Ayobami Adebayo

2024-08-0429:12

loading
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Kit de Waal

Kit de Waal

BBC Radio 4