Novelist Linda Grant and critic and editor Lucy Scholes return to Backlisted for a discussion of Margaret Drabble's third novel The Millstone, a book which has remained in print ever since it was first published in 1965, when Drabble was 26 years old; it was adapted for the screen by the author herself in 1969 as A Touch of Love, starring Sandy Dennis, Eleanor Bron and, making his film debut, Sir Ian McKellen. This story of a shy but determined young woman's decision to keep her baby and raise the child alone remains as relevant as ever. But The Millstone also speaks volumes of the era in which it was written, during which Margaret Drabble was a rising star in the literary firmament; and Andy, John, Linda and Lucy were delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate both novel and author, who is now 84.

Books mentioned:
Margaret Drabble - The Millstone; Jerusalem the Golden; A Natural Curiosity; The Red Queen; The Sea Lady; A Summer Bird-Cage
Linda Grant - The story of the Forest; The Clothes On Their Backs; The Thoughtful Dresser; The Dark Circle; A Stranger City; Remind Me Who I Am, Again; When I Lived In Modern Times
Lucy Scholes - A Different Sound: Stories by Mid-Century Women Writers; Saturday Lunch with the Brownings (introduction by Lucy Scholes)

Other links:
Lucy Scholes’ column and podcast - Re-Covered archive (Paris Review) and Ourshelves podcast (Virago Books)
Margaret Drabble discusses The Millstone on World Book Club
One Pair of Eyes, BBC, 1968
A Touch of Love, Waris Hussein, 1969