"Novel Approaches," part of the London Review of Books' Close Readings series, is a literary criticism podcast in which scholar Clare Bucknell, writer Thomas Jones, and rotating guests (including Tom Crewe, Colin Burrow, Mary Wellesley, and Mark Ford) conduct in-depth discussions of major 19th-century English novels, from Austen's Mansfield Park to Gissing's New Grub Street. Each episode focuses closely on a single novel, unpacking its treatment of money, class, and property while situating the book within its social and literary context. The tone is erudite yet conversational, blending close textual analysis with biographical and historical insight, and episodes often reference related LRB essays for further reading. Ideal for literature enthusiasts, students, and anyone interested in Victorian fiction, the show appeals to listeners who enjoy deep, academically grounded but accessible conversations about classic literature's enduring themes of ambition, gender, and economic anxiety.