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Colum McCann - TransAtlantic

Irish writer Colum McCann discusses his novel TransAtlantic, which was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, with James Naughtie and a group of readers.

The Irish writer Colum McCann discusses his novel TransAtlantic, which was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

The first non-stop intercontinental flight from Canada to the West of Ireland in 1919 by Alcock and Brown is a pivotal point in McCann's book. Featuring both fictional characters and real people, the novel is set across almost two centuries.

It explores the key moments in Irish/ US history, from the potato famine, the American civil war to the Good Friday agreement and examines the links and differences between these two countries separated by the vast Atlantic Ocean.

Presented by James Naughtie and including a group of readers who join in the discussion.

Presenter : James Naughtie
Interviewed guest : Colum McCann
Producer : Dymphna Flynn

January's Bookclub choice : The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan.

Available now

28 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Sun 6 Dec 2015 16:00
  • Thu 10 Dec 2015 15:30

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