Arts & Ideas

Former physician and best-selling author, Khaled Hosseini talks to Rana Mitter about his latest novel - And the Mountains Echoed - his charity relief work in Afghanistan, and his thoughts on writing a sympathetic Taliban character. As the Man Booker International Prize is announced, Night Waves is first to speak to the winner and discuss the body of their work. What is the way forward for psychiatry? Rana is joined by Lucy Johnstone, Tom Burns and Matthew Smith to discuss. And a first night review by Susannah Clapp of the winner of this year's Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Digraced.

Matthew Sweet talks to the American writer, James Salter...although writer seems rather an inadequate description. He's been a fighter pilot, a rock climber and a film maker as well sitting at a desk staring at a blank page. His memoir Burning the Days came out in the UK in 1997 to huge acclaim and he's published some short stories since then as well but now, after a gap of 34 years, there's a brand new novel - All That Is. Matthew Sweet talks to him about the thrill of flying, women, grief and the consolations of fiction.

Samira Ahmed talks with Lee Smolin, a controversial and prominent figure in the field of theoretical physics, about the search for a new kind of theory that can be applied to the whole universe challenging the way we experience time. Is Italy a Mafia republic? Acclaimed Mafia historian John Dickie, political journalist Annalisa Piras and author Clare Longrigg discuss. Samuel Beckett's 'Not I' premiered 40 years ago. To mark the anniversary the Royal Court theatre is staging the piece again, performed by Lisa Dwan. Lisa and Derval Tubridy, join Samira. Challenges to our concept of the physical world abound with recent news in technological advances. Philosopher Julian Baggini reflects on conceiving the inconceivable.

Anne McElvoy examines the political legacy of Edmund Burke with Conservative MP Jesse Norman, who is keen to point out differences between Burke's more communitarian conservatism and the liberal individualism espoused by some people who describe themselves as conservatives today. Exploring a new exhibition on propaganda and power at the British Library are Eliane Glaser, author of Get Real: How To Tell It Like It Is In A World Of Illusion and Matthew McGregor, Political Director of Blue State Digital who was involved in the 2012 Obama election campaign. Sean Holmes, artistic director of the Lyric Theatre, the actor Adjoa Andoh and Geoff Colman, Head of Acting at Central School of Speech and Drama discuss the future of acting.

Matthew Sweet talks to Peter Brook. The theatre director has had a lifelong relationship with Shakespeare which he has explored in his productions of plays including A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear and Hamlet starring actors such as Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud and Paul Scofield. He discusses his new book of essays reflecting on the playwright, The Quality of Mercy.

With Samira Ahmed. Sarah Churchwell and Kevin Jackson discuss the Great Gatsby as a new film, directed by Baz Luhrmann is released. Samira talks to the Indian architect Charles Correa about how he attempts to marry modernism with concern for local meaning in his work. And Samira is joined by historian and blogger Tim Stanley, the historian of Communism Robert Service, and the leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett to discuss political movements.

Matthew Sweet visits Tate Britain’s unveiling of a comprehensive new vision of its permanent collection. Thematic presentation gives way to strict chronology. Susannah Clapp gives a first night review of Public Enemy, a new production of Ibsen's play about corruption and the nature of the public good. New research has revealed only a very small percentage of the population has made plans for the end of their lives. Matthew and guests discuss the idea of the good death. F R Leavis’ spirit has been summoned to the discussion table in the recent wranglings about what should be taught to children in schools. David Ellis, who studied with, and the novelist Margaret Drabble discuss his influence and reputation.

Anne McElvoy applies herself to the crisis of modern banking, the plight of buildings in Moscow and a masterpiece of British theatre. She talks to Simon Russell Beale and John Simm about the latter, Pinter's early tragicomdedy, The Hothouse, before sharing notes on bankers with the academic economist, Anat Admati and then enlisting the views of the conservationist, Clem Cecil about the Melnikov House - one of the jewels in Russia's modernist crown. She’s also joined by Karen Leeder and Catherine Merridale to discuss the power that Hitler and Stalin still exert over writers in Germany and Russia.

The Mark Rothko Arts Centre has opened its doors for the first time and some of his paintings return to his birthplace in Daugavpils, Latvia. Philip Dodd journeys there to speak to curator, for whom the project has been a labour of love, and Rothko's children about their father's memories of the city. John Beddington is the former chief scientific advisor to the government. He’s represented the interests of the scientific community to Whitehall during an era of massive cutbacks in public spending. He talks to Philip about what role scientists play in the big decisions of public life?

Rana Mitter talks to the playwright Peter Nichols as his 1981 Passion Play opens again in the West End with Zoe Wanamaker as the betrayed wife Eleanor. In his latest book Strictly Bipolar, psychoanalyst Darian Leader looks at the cultural setting for bipolar disorder, and suggests a new way of making sense of the condition. And the architect Sunand Prasad and critic Rowan Moore discuss meaning in architecture and the role of the audience - or the public as we call them when discussing buildings rather than plays - in creating that meaning.

Matthew Sweet talks to actor, writer and international screen star Terence Stamp as a season of his films re-examines his career at London's British Film Institute.

Anne McElvoy hosts a special edition looking at the state of warfare in the modern world. Today Western nations find themselves in conflicts with enemy networks, rather than enemy nations, the technology of war has developed to using unmanned aerial vehicles, and our increasing reliance on the internet raises the spectre cyber warfare. Do these developments mean we've entered a new era for warfare? What do they mean for the ethics of conflict in the modern world?

50 years since 'Billy Liar' was released Samira Ahmed talks to one of the film’s stars, Helen Fraser, and film historian Melanie Williams to discuss its role in British cinema. When it comes to success and leadership, are those who are extroverted given an unfair advantage? Susan Cain, who argues the power of the introvert is undervalued, Julia Hobsbawm, the business woman dubbed the "Queen of Networking", and the cultural historian Henry Hitchings discuss. Sarah Kent talks about the artist Ellen Gallagher’s new exhibition, AxMe. And Michael Burleigh argues the collapse of colonial empires after World War II led to countless vicious power struggles and that the consequences of distant wars are still with us.

Philip Dodd talks to film and television producer Tony Garnett about his career including his early BBC work with Ken Loach, the traumatic death of his parents. Margaret Mead was a famous anthropologist who fought for a seat at the table of international relations for her discipline. Discussing her legacy and the shifting status of anthropology are Peter Mandler, author of a new book about her, and the anthropologist Kit Davies. In his latest book Steve Jones asks how the Bible fares as a scientific textbook. He joins Philip to discuss the science of culture and the culture of science.

Matthew Sweet is on stage at the Theatre Royal Stratford East for a post-performance discussion of The Octoroon, by Dion Boucicault, which can be heard on Sunday 5 May 2013 on Drama on 3. To discuss the enduring appeal and legacy of the play, Matthew Sweet is joined by playwright Mark Ravenhill, who adapted the play for Radio 3; the cultural commentator Kit Davis; the Victorian theatre expert Anne Varty; and two of the cast members, Amaka Okafor and Golden Globe nominee Toby Jones. As the play’s attitudes reflect the time in which it is set, this edition contains some language now regarded as racist.

Simon Schama joins Anne McElvoy to discuss his foray into literature, and the controversy it caused amongst historians. As a new series starts on BBC 2 looking at American Primetime TV, Simon Schama, Alan Yentob and American TV Executive Caryn Mandabach discuss how popular American TV series have reflected American social history. Kamila Shamsie, reflects on Intizar Husain and his masterpiece, Basti, a vivid fictional account of Pakistan from partition to the present that has made its author one of the frontrunners for this year's Man Booker International Prize. David Darcy reviews a musical about the life of Imelda Marcos written by the musician and artist David Byrne.

Philip Dodd, Jesse Norman MP, Lord Maurice Glasman, the author Paul Kingsnorth, theatre director Lisa Goldman, Dr Joanne Parker of the English Department of Exeter University and the broadcaster and historian Michael Wood discuss the enigma of Englishness and its uses as an identity.

Rana Mitter talks to Susannah Clapp with the first review of the National Theatre's production of 'Othello', starring Adrian Lester as the Moor. According to David Boyle's new book, 'Broke', something is killing off the middle classes and to discuss this are Selina Todd and Mark Littlewood. The literary biographer Richard Holmes has taken to the air in his latest book - a history of ballooning and its pioneers. And, as "Who's the Pest?" brings a season of insect inspired events to the Wellcome Collection in London, Rana is joined by Mark Moffett, and Erica McAlister to discuss the hidden virtues of insects.

Matthew Sweet is leading an elite party of literary explorers - Linda Grant, Aminatta Forna, Naomi Alderman and Tim Stanley on an expedition to find "the common reader" -- being stalked by Woolf in the 20th Century and by Johnson in the 18th. Both believed that the common reader "uncorrupted with literary prejudices" was the final arbiter of "poetical honours" so it's a quest that's clearly still relevant today. The question is what does a common reader look like in our digital age? What are they reading? Where? And how?

Anne McElvoy and Susannah Clapp review the west-end play Doktor Glas, starring Krister Henricksson, best known in the UK for his role as Kurt Wallander. Sheryl Sandberg the chief operating officer of Facebook talks about her new book, Lean In, describing how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers and encourages women to sit at the table and pursue their goals. Saloua Raouda Choucair has her first international exhibition at Tate Modern. Richard Cork and Karl Sharro assess her work and examine how she fits within 20th century art history. Thane Rosenbaum and Salil Tripathi discuss revenge and justice.

Rana Mitter discusses the allure of the missing work of art with the writer Rick Gekoski. Are some works of art more interesting in their absence? New Generation thinkers Corin Throsby and Laurence Scott propose the idea that crowd-funding and social media are changing the relationship of artists and their audiences. Rana talks to the playwright Tanika Gupta about her new play for the RSC, The Empress, opening at the Swan in Stratford. And Ian Macmillan and Julia Jordan discuss the films of the experimental writer BC Johnson who would have been eighty this year.

Howard Brenton discusses his new play The Arrest of Ai Wei Wei with Philip Dodd. Are the BRICS countries set to challenge the World Bank, and realise a power shift from the West and Northern hemispheres to the East and South? Philip discusses with Oscar Guardiola Rivera, Andrew Chesnut and Robert Guest. New Generation thinker Jonathan Healey explains how land reforms brought in by Napoleon in Spring 1813 heralded a profound social change that still affects us today. And a review of Gus Van Sant's latest film Promised Land by Lionel Shriver.

Matthew Sweet asks historian Charles Glass, author of a new book on deserters in World War Two, whether desertion is an act of sanity, and not - as some armed forces have tended to believe - a symptom of mental illness. He also talks to Ben Griffin of the organisation Veterans for Peace, who represents soldiers in current conflicts who seek a way out. Hermione Lee discusses the letters novelist Willa Cather didn't want you to read, and Sandra Hebron and Mary Wild review Pasolini's controversial film Theorem.

Since her death on the 8th April, Baroness Thatcher has been lauded as the greatest peace-time Prime Minister of the 20th century, but also criticised as the most divisive politician of a generation. With such a wide range of views, how can we make sense of the 'Iron Lady'? Samira Ahmed is joined by historians Dominic Sandbrook and Selina Todd, economist Mark Littlewood, writers Peter Hitchens and Will Self, Classicist Edith Hall, and politician and veteran of the Thatcher Government Edwina Currie.

Samira Ahmed talks to American film director Oliver Stone about his documentary miniseries which uses new archive material and little known documents to explore an unconventional account of events that took place during the twentieth century that have shaped America's history. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discusses her new novel Americanah. As the British Library expands its archiving power by storing every UK Website, plus public tweets and Facebook entries, we ask what lies behind our need to collect everything with AS Byatt and Jane Humphries. And Samira talks to the Estonian composer Eugene Birman about his new cantata Nostra Culpa.

Matthew Sweet visits Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, home to Rembrandt's The Night Watch, which reopens to the public this month, following a decade of restoration.

Philip Dodd explores one of the classics of social history, The Making of the English Working Class by E P Thompson. Ground breaking and passionately engaged it changed the way we thought about the Industrial Revolution and the men, women and children whose hard labour drove it. Even fifty years after its publication modern historians are in dialogue with the book --arguing with its thesis, qualifying its messages and, in the case of the very bold, claiming to have improved on it. To discuss its status as a landmark of our culture Philip is joined by Maurice Glassman, the political theoretician and erstwhile guru of Ed Miliband's Labour and the historians, Alison Light, Miles Taylor and Emma Griffin.

Church Historian Diarmaid Macculloch joins Anne McElvoy to discuss the role that silence has played in the development of Christianity. David Dewing, director of The Geffrye Museum, argues that the museum sector neglects a focus on the middle classes; historian Selina Todd joins him to debate this idea. Actor Edward Petheridge and gerontologist Raymond Tallis discuss the neurological impact of the two strokes Petheridge suffered whilst rehearsing for the role of King Lear, which is the subject of a new play My Perfect Mind. And film critic Ian Christie remembers the novelist and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.

Is nostalgia for an idea of the NHS is inhibiting clear-eyed debate? Samira Ahmed is joined by columnist Ian Birrell and campaigning GP Jonathon Tomlinson to discuss. Alexandra Harris reviews an exhibition of Paul Nash's work at the Pallant House Gallery. Geneticist and writer Adam Rutherford discusses his latest exploration of the origin and future of life. And the television commissioner and producer John Yorke, whose work includes Life on Mars, Shameless and EastEnders, explores television and storytelling.

What history should children learn and be able to contextualise? And what do they know? Rana Mitter enters the Great British History debate with the historian David Cannadine, Tristram Hunt MP, Sheila Lawlor of the think tank Politeia, Stephen Drew, headmaster of Brentwood County High School in Essex and Professor Dinah Birch of the Universitry of Liverpool.

Sir Nicholas Robert Hytner looks back at his time as the head of the National Theatre in London which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Professor Rosi Braidotti discusses her new book The Posthuman with Professor Joanna Bourke. And Award-winning film maker Penny Woolcock reveals her unique involvement in the attempts of two Birmingham inner city gangs to bring peace to their neighbourhoods.

Samira Ahmed talks to international best selling author Mohsin Hamid about his new novel How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia. Susan Aldworth and the editor of the magazine RawVision, John Maizels explore the Wellcome Collection's show of Outsider Art from Japan. Peter Moffat discusses his television series, The Village, starring John Simm and Maxine Peake and to round things off Susannah Clapp reports on the first night of The Low Road - Bruce Norris's follow up to the much garlanded Clybourne Park.

Matthew Sweet talks to acclaimed literary critic James Wood, visits an exhibition on Pompeii & Herculeneum and discusses the legacy of documentary maker Michael Grigsby. Plus the latest film by Francois Ozon, In the House, is reviewed.

As Zimbabwe votes in favour of a new constitution, Anne McElvoy is joined by Albie Sachs, journalist Simon Jenkins human rights lawyer Chibli Mallat to examine whether national constitutions aid or impede democracy. In light of this week’s cross-party deal on press regulation established by Royal Charter, Private Eye editor Ian Hislop and media expert James Curran offer contesting views on the State’s relationship with the press. Susannah Clapp delivers a first night review of The Book of Mormon, the new musical from the creators of South Park. And Simon Morrison discusses Lina Prokofiev, the wife of the composer Sergei, who is the subject of his new biography.

Rana Mitter hosts a special edition of Night Waves as part of Radio 3’s Baroque Spring season, including a visit to Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland. Joined by artists and designers, Rana explores the legacy of baroque and its influence today.

Philosopher and linguist Noam Chomsky joins Philip Dodd for an extended conversation on American individualism, the role of reason, and a life spent holding authority to account. And Philip meet the Master of Wellington College, Anthony Seldon, to get a very different perspective on how power operates in society.

Matthew Sweet talks to the Spanish novelist Javier Marias about his new book 'The Infatuations'. Night Waves takes stock of the man who sold the world as a new exhibition 'David Bowie is....' gets set to open at the Victoria and Albert Museum. And In another new book 'The Undivided Past' David Cannadine is looking beyond the supposed clash of religions, classes and civilisations and asks does a "History Beyond Our Differences" lead to confusion in the absence of polarised views?

Anne McElvoy talks to Aleksandar Hemon, the Bosnian-born writer who some have been comparing to Nabokov and Conrad, about his newest book which is his first venture into non-fiction. Jonathan Jones reviews the new show of work by the British Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare's. Emma Griffin, Jane Humphries and Judith Hawley discuss a challenging new history of the Industrial Revolution. And Alice Rawsthorn explains why she believes good design and a good life should always go together.

Ken Loach talks to Philip Dodd about his new documentary Spirit of '45, which celebrates the hopes of democratic socialism in post-war Britain. As the first UK retrospective of works by George Bellows opens, Night Waves sends the American poet Eva Salzman to take a look. Geoff Mulgan lays out his vision for a new breed of capitalism when he discusses his book The Locust and the Bee. And Keith Laws, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology discusses with Rupert Read, a philosopher of science whether psychologists should do more to act like scientists.

What does a nineteenth century Swedish play have to say about post-apartheid South Africa? Samira Ahmed talks to director Yael Farber about her re-working of Strindberg's Miss Julie. Why are we compelled to explore our physical and physiological limits and how may that benefit us - doctor of medicine Kevin Fong, and philosopher Andy Martin discuss. Also poet John Agard talks about being awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. And Samira talks to the Mexican film maker, Carlos Reygadas who won the best director award at Cannes last year.

Matthew Sweet talks to Booker-nominated novelist Julia O’Faolain about her new memoir and growing up with her father, a celebrated writer and a radical dissident. Helen Wallace reviews George Benjamin’s and Martin Crimp’s new opera, ‘Written on Skin’. Professor Nora Crook explains how she discovered who really censored Shelley’s notorious poem, ‘The Revolt of Islam’. Marcus Chown reviews The Challenger, a new docu-drama about the investigation into the 1986 space shuttle disaster. And we debate whether the use of words like ‘unacceptable’ and ‘inappropriate’ are part of a tendency to avoid casting strong moral judgements.

Anne McElvoy meets Hilary Mantel, the winner of the David Cohen Prize for literature. Mantel also defends her comments about the Duchess of Cambridge. The writer and former priest Mark Vernon discusses his latest book on love with the philosopher and economist Jamie Whyte, and the novelist and academic Eva Hoffman. The artistic team that created War Horse re-unite for Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream which opens this week at the Bristol Old Vic. Anne McElvoy discusses the new production with co-director Tom Morris. Revolutionary Iran - a new book explores the unique history of the Islamic republic. Anne McElvoy speaks to Michael Axworthy, one of the world's principle experts on the country.

The Olympics ceremony master Danny Boyle joins Rana Mitter to discuss the British film industry and what he thinks is the role of creativity in boosting the economy. As we approach the 200th anniversary of Dr David Livingstone's birth, Rana discusses the man and reassesses his legacy in today's Africa, with John MacKenzie and Kit Davis. Ruth Ozeki talks about her new novel "A Tale for the Time Being". And Rana along with Dr Olga Dmitrieva visits a new exhibition on early relations between the Tudors and early Stewarts with the courts of the Russian Tsars.

With Matthew Sweet. A first night review, by Susannah Clapp, of Peter Morgan's new play, The Audience, starring Helen Mirren as the Queen. Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, the architect Richard Griffiths and architecture critic Hugh Pearman discuss what place heritage has in a modern and increasingly urbanised Britain. Adrian Wootton reviews possibly the last film from Steven Soderbergh; Side Effects. And Jaron Lanier, one of the most important philosophers of the digital age talks about his book Who Owns The Future?

Shereen El Feki, author of Sex and the Citadel, joins Philip Dodd to explore how the struggles for political change in the Arab world have been accompanied by a sexual revolution. Professor Andrew Hussey explains how the culture and history of France can by understood by observing the history of the Louvre. As Science is becoming ever more popular in our news and consciousness, neuroscientist Daniel Glaser and philosopher of science Rupert Read discuss whether we are living through a new age of Enlightenment. And critic Nigel Floyd reviews Broken, the new film directed by Rufus Norris.

As extreme libertarian thought is on the rise in right-wing politics, Anne McElvoy is joined by Business editor of The Economist Robert Guest and American historian Tim Stanley to explore the growth of ‘anarcho-capitalism’. Italian film writer Pasquale Iannone reviews Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's Caesar Must Die. Set designer Christopher Oram and theatre critic Susannah Clapp take a look at what makes great theatre stage design. And to coincide with the Southbank’s The Rest is Noise festival, Anne and guests explore the cultural and political transformations of Berlin during the 1920s and ‘30s.

Samira Ahmed examines why James Joyce's experimental and 'difficult' work Finnegans Wake has been a surprise hit in China. Travel writer Sara Wheeler discusses her new book, 'O my America!’, which tells the story of six remarkable women who fled nineteenth-century England to reinvent themselves in the USA. Historian Justin Champion, sociologist Eileen Barker and theologian Martin Palmer join Samira to discuss why we are so obsessed with the idea of the end of the world. And we look at an unlikely cultural movement which has flourished in post 9/11 America - Muslim comedy.

As the winner of the Paul Foot award for investigative and campaigning journalism is announced, Matthew Sweet re-assesses the significance of this award with Ian Hislop and the winner Andrew Norfolk, in a year the judges have described as "exceptionally strong". Matthew talks to political philosopher John Gray about his latest book and asks should we turn towards contemplation of the natural world and the non-human? And James Lasdun discusses his memoir on literary stalking with psychoanalyst Lisa Appignanesi and New Generation Thinker Martin Goodman.

Does compassion inhibit rational political debate? To discuss, Philip Dodd is joined by MP David Blunkett, IPPR Director Nick Pearce, and Radio 3 New Generation Thinker Adriana Sinclair. Sarah Dunant reviews a new Frederico Barocci exhibition, arguing that the artist should be added to the list of Italian Renaissance masters. Rory Carroll discusses his new book on Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. And Annalisa Piras reflects on what the surprises of the Italian election can tell us about the country’s cultural climate.

A Landmark edition in which Anne McElvoy and guests look at Alain-Fournier's celebrated and nostalgic tale of adolescent romance, Le Grand Meaulnes. Michèle Roberts, Hermione Lee and Patrick McGuiness examine it's enduring appeal and legacy from the poetry of its language, to the interlocking mysteries of its plot to the intriguing romantic life and early death of its author, and the story of the woman who inspired him. With readings by Peter Marinker.