Look Closer: with Robert Douglas-Fairhurst
Look Closer: with Robert Douglas-Fairhurst  
Podcast: Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! 🔥
Published On: Sat Jan 31 2026
Description: Dominic welcomes back one of the most celebrated guests of this series Professor Robert Douglas-Fairhurst ... Robert’s latest book Look Closer: How to get more out of reading (published by Penguin) is an invitation to all of us to go deeper into our reading, and find greater joy and meaning in the works of great writers from all ages and backgrounds. With examples from Dickens (of course!) but also George Eliot, Shakespeare, Margaret Attwood, Samuel Becket, Jane Austen and many more … Since they last spoke Robert has also published Metamorphosis: A Life in Pieces : a deeply powerful biography of his life and career, set against the backdrop of shock diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2017.Here are links to purchase Robert's books:Look Closer: How to get more out of readingMetamorphosis: A Life in PiecesThe Turning Point: A Year That Changed Dickens and the World  A Christmas Carol & Other Christmas Books Becoming Dickens: The Invention of a Novelist Support the showIf you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrardThank you so much!Host: Dominic GerrardSeries Artwork: Léna GibertOriginal Music: Dominic GerrardThank you for listening!