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World Book Club

The world's great authors discuss their best-known novel.

Harriett talks with Daniyal Mueenddin about This Is Where the Serpent Lives.

Daniyal's debut novel is a rich and compelling portrait of contemporary Pakistan, following the intertwined lives of unforgettable characters whose fortunes are shaped by love, ambition, loyalty and betrayal. Set against the backdrop of a vast rural estate, the novel explores the lives of servants and landowners, dreamers and opportunists, as they navigate systems of class, power and privilege.

Recorded in front of live audience in Edinburgh, Daniyal will be answering questions about how he created such an intimate portrait of life in Pakistan, the challenges of writing an epic that spans decades, and if it's possible for people to break free of the role society deems they must fulfill.

Release date:

50 minutes

On radio

Sat 5 Sep 2026 11:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 5 Sep 2026 11:06GMT
  • Sun 6 Sep 2026 02:06GMT
  • Sun 6 Sep 2026 13:06GMT
  • Sun 6 Sep 2026 16:06GMT

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