Dr Alex George and Emma Donoghue

The Pull of the Stars is the last of the Early Summer Book Club reads. It tells the story of Nurse Julia Power as she helps deliver babies in an understaffed, overcrowded ward during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918. Returning Book Club author Emma Donoghue joins Richard and Judy to discuss writing about the politics of childbirth, and why she likes writing novels set in confined spaces.

Meanwhile, A&E and TV doctor Alex George has been working in a hospital throughout this century’s pandemic. Together, they all explore the differences – and many similarities – between the Spanish Flu and Covid-19. Alex also explains why he wrote his book Live Well Every Day, and why he feels it’s important that mental health sits on the school curriculum alongside maths and English.

Simply head online to whsmith.co.uk to browse the entire Early Summer Book Club collection, and use the code BOOKCLUB10 for a 10% discount.