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Jung Chang, Sarah Lucas, Allende, Everest Music

Presented by Rana Mitter. Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans, discusses her new account examining the story of the most important woman in Chinese history: Empress Dowager Cixi.

With Rana Mitter. Bestselling author of Wild Swans, Jung Chang discusses her new biography of the most important woman in Chinese history. Empress Dowager Cixi ruled the countries for decades and according to Jung Chang, brought a medieval empire into the modern age. And yet, until now, she had been portrayed as a diehard conservative despot.

The critics' favourite Young British artist, Sarah Lucas, is given a survey of her anthropomorphic and tragicomic sculptures at the Whitechapel Gallery. Forget Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, according to the art critic Alastair Sooke, she is the most authentic and exciting artist of them of all.

In September 1973 the elected socialist president of Chile Salvador Allende was deposed in a coup that saw the US-backed general Augusto Pinochet take power. In his book 'Story Of A Death Foretold' Oscar Guardiola-Rivera argues these events were important both in the development of a specifically Latin American style of socialism, and in US foreign policy in the second half of the Cold War - a period in which the current doctrine of 'limited intervention' has its roots. Oscar joins Rana along with the US historian Tim Stanley.

And our latest contribution to the Sound of Cinema season: Captain John Noel's extraordinary film about Mallory and Irvine's ill -fated expedition to the Himalayas in 1924- The Epic of Everest. Recently restored, it is due to receive its world premiere at the London Film Festival later this month, complete with a newly commissioned score composed by Simon Fisher Turner.

Image: (c) Freer Sackler Gallery.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Jung Chang

    Jung Chang discusses her new biography of the Empress Dowager Cixi

    Duration: 12:02

  • Sarah Lucas

    Alastair Sooke survey's a new show by Sarah Lucas

    Duration: 09:28

  • Salvador Allende

    Tim Stanley joins Rana to discuss Oscar Guardiola-Rivera's new book on Salvador Allende

    Duration: 13:33

  • The Epic of Everest

    Simon Fisher Turner discusses his new soundtrack to The Epic of Everest

    Duration: 08:43

Jung Chang

Jung Chang

Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China written by is published by Jonathan Cape.

Μύ

Image: JungΜύChang at the Forbidden City by Jon Halliday

Sarah Lucas

is onΜύat the Whitchapel Gallery, LondonΜύfrom Wednesday 2 October until Sunday 15 December 2013.

Oscar Guardiola-Rivera

Oscar Guardiola-Rivera

Story of a Death Foretold: The Coup against Salvador Allende, 11 September 1973 written by Oscar Guardiola-Rivera is published by Bloomsbury Publishing.

Μύ

Image Credit: Diana Matar

The Epic of Everest

is re-released with a special live performance of Simon Fisher Turner's new score at the Odeon West End, London and also released in cinemas nationwide on Friday 18 October 2013, certificate U.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Rana Mitter
Interviewed Guest Jung Chang
Interviewed Guest Alastair Sooke
Interviewed Guest Oscar Guardiola-Rivera
Interviewed Guest Tim Stanley
Producer Estelle Doyle

Broadcast

  • Tue 1 Oct 2013 22:00

Free Thinking

Free Thinking

Radio 3’s new home for arts and ideas.