Tessa Hadley Reads John McGahern

Each month, a writer selects a story from The New Yorker’s vast fiction archive-a piece that has resonated with them, challenged them, or simply brings them joy. Then, they sit down with the magazine’s fiction editor, Deborah Treisman, for a deep and personal discussion about it. What unfolds is less a formal literary critique and more an intimate, revealing conversation between two brilliant minds. You’ll hear the selected story read aloud in full, allowing the language and rhythm to wash over you, followed by a dialogue that unpacks the author’s craft, the story’s hidden layers, and its lasting impact. This The New Yorker: Fiction podcast offers a unique backstage pass to the creative process, exploring why certain narratives endure and how they speak to us across time. It’s for anyone who loves the feeling of getting lost in a great short story and then, with a trusted guide, finding their way back out with a richer understanding of how it all works. These monthly sessions are a quiet celebration of the written word, revealing the connections and inspirations that fuel the literary world.