Iconic arts series with films, plays, literature and music from around the world
World Service,·2413 episodes
The American thriller writer and author of Gorky Park talks about his novel set in Japan
How the treatment of Native Americans in Hollywood westerns shifted in the 1970s
The impact of Ludwig van Beethoven’s famous 9th Symphony
An exploration of one of the world’s most popular Christmas carols
An exploration of John Newton's hymn, which was inspired by a near-death experience at sea
The British writer takes a walk around the perimeter of London
Who is that wants to ban plays, and who resists them?
The continuing impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel
The Life of Pi author talks about winning 2002’s Man Booker Prize
The sculptor talks about his work for the vast turbine hall at the Tate Modern, London
The Nigerian playwright and poet talks about his poem In the Small Hours
The poet talks about a collection of poems about the death of his 18-year-old son
The French writer talks about his novel Platform
Why the hymn has so much significance to so many people
What Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe paintings say about the US pop artist
The Nigerian author Helon Habila talks about his novel Waiting for an Angel
The enormous impact of the early electronic music pioneers on the music of today
The Indian author answers your questions about her book The God of Small Things
How the sex lives of young Nigerians are influenced by the novels they’ve read. Also on th
The story behind Picasso’s disturbing, defiant masterpiece
The Marxist historian talks about his life and key events of the 20th century
The Senegalese musician talks about the power of lyrics
A celebration of Samuel Beckett’s revolutionary play, 50 years after it was first performe
The story behind one of the most unsettling paintings ever created.
The Nigerian born writer discusses his novel The Famished Road
The Palestinian lawyer and writer on his memoir, Stranger in the House
How fireworks have appeared and influenced art across the world
The Zimbabwean novelist talks about writing for children
A discussion about market forces in two contrasting areas: pop music and fine art
The British academic and the German-born artist discuss transgressive art