Main content

Zadie Smith on social mobility

Stephanie Flanders discusses social mobility with Zadie Smith, David Kynaston, David Willetts MP and Owen Jones.

On Start the Week Stephanie Flanders discusses social mobility. Zadie Smith's novel NW is a portrait of modern urban life in which characters try, but mostly fail, to escape their past. The Conservative Minister David Willetts and the columnist Owen Jones discuss what meritocracy and opportunity mean in today's society. And the social historian David Kynaston looks to the end of the 1950s when meritocracy became the buzz word of the day.
Producer: Katy Hickman.

Available now

43 minutes

Last on

Mon 24 Jun 2013 21:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Hari Kunzru and Dystopia

Next

Population: Ten Billion

See all episodes from Start the Week

Clip

Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith is an author.

Μύ

NW is out in paperback, published by Penguin.

David Kynaston

David Kynaston is a historian.

Μύ

Modernity Britain: Opening the Box, 1957-59 is published by Bloomsbury.

David Willetts

David Willetts is the Member of Parliament for Havant and Minister for Universities and Science.

Μύ

Owen Jones

Owen Jones is a columnist for The Independent.

Μύ

Credits

Presenter Stephanie Flanders
Interviewed Guest Zadie Smith
Interviewed Guest David Willetts
Interviewed Guest David Kynaston
Interviewed Guest Owen Jones
Producer Katy Hickman

Broadcasts

  • Mon 24 Jun 2013 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Mon 24 Jun 2013 21:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

Podcast

  • Start the Week

    Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday