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05/11/2010

Presented by Jenni Murray. Getting the best for your special needs child; novelist Polly Samson; Tragedy vs Comedy? What's the best guide to living?

Presented by Jenni Murray

Guerrilla Mum: Parenting a child with special educational needs and getting the proper institutional and educational support is not something most of us prepare for. It is, however, something many of us end up doing. Ellen Power is one such mother and she's written a book about her experiences. Pam Johnson is Community Development Manager in the Midlands and North West for MENCAP - the UK charity for people with a learning disability.

Comedy vs Tragedy? Which is the best guide to living? It's an argument older than the Stoics and Epicureans or the Cavaliers and the Roundheads, and has raged from Athens to Eastenders - and again it's the subject of a debate at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3's Free Thinking Festival taking place this weekend. Jenni is joined by two of the protagonists: Natalie Haynes, taking the side of the tragedians, and Janey Godley for the comedians.

After 11 years, the writer Polly Samson has just published a new book of short stories entitled Perfect Lives. She talks to Jenni about the collection and why it's taken her so long to write it.

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45 minutes

Last on

Fri 5 Nov 2010 10:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Chapters

  • Perceptions of Female Sexuality

    Phillip Hodson, Fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and psychotherapist Rachel Morris, discuss whether sexuality differs between men and women.

    Duration: 09:38

  • Comedy v Tragedy

    Comedy or tragedy, which is the best guide to living? Natalie Haynes and comedian Janey Godley discuss.

    Duration: 09:11

  • Polly Samson

    On her new book of short stories, 'Perfect Lives'.

    Duration: 08:22

  • Rachel Crolla

    Caz Graham meets Rachel Crolla, the first woman to climb to the highest point of every country in Europe.

    Duration: 05:31

  • Guerilla Mum

    Ellen Power talks through the challenges of parenting a child with special educational needs, with Pam Johnson from MENCAP.

    Duration: 08:15

Broadcast

  • Fri 5 Nov 2010 10:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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  • Woman's Hour

    Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire.