London Review Podcasts

Jacqueline Rose draws parallels between revolutionary 19th-century socialist Rosa Luxemburg and Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. She explains how each of these remarkable women straddled the divide between their political and inner lives. Chaired by Hilary Harper.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Author, essayist and poet Colm Tóibín is one of Ireland’s greatest living writers. He discusses his life and work, including his recent book The Testament of Mary, in which he re-imagines the life of Christ through the eyes of the holiest of saints. With Michael McGirr.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Michael Wood reconsiders ‘Cleopatra’ – its expense, its quarrelling stars, its length, its success – on the release of a restored print for the film’s fiftieth anniversary.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lavinia Greenlaw tells the story of singer Tracey Thorn’s rise from bedroom rehearsals and an ad in the NME to indie label Cherry Red (who also signed Greenlaw’s band), the top ten and a platinum record.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Marina Warner explores Emily Davison’s legacy as the suffragettes’ first martyr in a talk given at the inaugural Wilding Festival at St George’s Bloomsbury, where Davison’s memorial service was held.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On the centenary of Wagner’s birth, Nicholas Spice asks in his Winter Lecture at the British Museum how his music works on us and what this tells us about music in general.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

David Runciman on the impossibility and persistence of the US political system.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In his 2013 Edward W. Said lecture Noam Chomsky reflects on 65 years of violence in the Middle East.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alan Bennett considers the banana skin and is mistaken for ‘another Alan’ in his Diary for 2011.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Andrew O’Hagan chaired this discussion between Linda Colley, R.W. Johnson and Tom Devine about national histories and the ways they should, and should not, be taught.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In his 2011 Winter Lecture at the British Museum, T.J. Clark shows how the painting of Guernica in May and June 1937 changed the way Picasso imagined space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.