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Book of the Week

Serialised book readings, featuring works of non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history

Radio 4,30 episodes

Episodes

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Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China
Episode 1
Jung Chang's biography of the woman who single-handedly dragged China into modernity.
15 mins23 Sep 2013
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China
Episode 2
Cixi forms an important political alliance and launches a palace coup.
15 mins24 Sep 2013
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China
Episode 3
Cixi adopts the three-year-old son of her sister and names him Emperor.
15 mins25 Sep 2013
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China
Episode 4
A young ambitious reformist looks to topple Cixi from power, and a battle of wits ensues.
15 mins26 Sep 2013
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China
Episode 5
Cixi faces her greatest challenge as ruler, when anti-Western feeling leads to violence.
15 mins27 Sep 2013
Letters from South Africa
Strangers
Writer Bongani Kona begins five letters from South Africa in the week of the ANC elections
14 mins11 Dec 2017
Letters from South Africa
Episode 2
Writer Mark Gevisser's letter from South Africa broadcast in the week of the ANC elections
14 mins12 Dec 2017
Letters from South Africa
Shosholoza: The Train that Keeps Moving
Writer Panashe Chigumadzi's letter from South Africa in the week of the ANC elections.
14 mins13 Dec 2017
Letters from South Africa
This Is What a Country Looks Like When it Is Collapsing
Author Lidudumalingani Mqombothi on life in South Africa during the week of ANC elections.
14 mins14 Dec 2017
Letters from South Africa
Johannesburg
Five letters from South African writers about life there in the week of the ANC elections.
14 mins15 Dec 2017
A Broken Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen's Secret Chord
Episode 1
An early loss for the passionate poet-turned-musician.
15 mins02 Jun 2014
A Broken Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen's Secret Chord
Episode 2
Despite success as a poet, Cohen feels the need to escape to the Greek island of Hydra.
15 mins03 Jun 2014
A Broken Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen's Secret Chord
Episode 3
In the Chelsea Hotel in New York, Cohen turns his talents to songwriting.
15 mins04 Jun 2014
A Broken Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen's Secret Chord
Episode 4
Disaster threatens Cohen's first European tour, but in Buddhism he finds spiritual solace.
15 mins05 Jun 2014
A Broken Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen's Secret Chord
Episode 5
Now hugely successful, Cohen retreats to Mount Baldy to spend time with his guru.
15 mins06 Jun 2014
Month of Madness
Sarajevo
Christopher Clark on the impact of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo.
15 mins23 Jun 2014
Month of Madness
Vienna
Christopher Clark explores how Vienna reacted to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.
15 mins24 Jun 2014
Month of Madness
Berlin
Christopher Clark on Germany's blank cheque to Austria-Hungary for war against Serbia.
15 mins25 Jun 2014
Month of Madness
The French in St. Petersburg
Christopher Clark on the impact of the extension of the Franco-Russian alliance in 1914.
15 mins26 Jun 2014
Month of Madness
London
Christopher Clark explores how British decision-makers reacted in the July Crisis of 1914.
15 mins27 Jun 2014
Letters from Italy
Prof Gustavo Piga
Prof Gustavo Piga, economist at Rome University, delivers a letter about Italy today.
15 mins22 Apr 2013
Letters from Italy
Lucia Annunziata
Lucia Annunziata, editor of Huffington Post, Italy, delivers a letter about Italy today.
15 mins23 Apr 2013
Letters from Italy
Carlo Sibilia
Carlo Sibilia, member of the Five Star Movement, delivers a letter about Italy today.
15 mins24 Apr 2013
Letters from Italy
Dacia Maraini
Novelist and playwright Dacia Maraini delivers a letter about Italy today.
15 mins25 Apr 2013
Letters from Italy
Annalisa Piras
Annalisa Piras, an Italian journalist based in London, delivers a letter about Italy today
15 mins26 Apr 2013
State of the Union
Episode 1
Italian journalist Beppe Severgnini contemplates the view from Italy.
15 mins24 Oct 2011
State of the Union
Episode 2
German historian Michael Stürmer contemplates the idea of Europe in Autumn 2011.
15 mins25 Oct 2011
State of the Union
Episode 3
Political commentator Agnes Poirier contemplates the view from France.
15 mins26 Oct 2011
State of the Union
Episode 4
Irish writer Fintan O'Toole contemplates the idea of Europe in Autumn 2011.
15 mins27 Oct 2011
State of the Union
Episode 5
Greek novelist Ersi Sotiropoulos contemplates the idea of Europe in Autumn 2011.
15 mins28 Oct 2011

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Book of the Week

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