Rest and Recreation

Alan Reynolds discusses his first novel, Flying with Kites with Rest and Recreation host Michael Millward.Flying with Kites is an extensively researched novel about the experience of two mothers who are forced to flee their homeland in Kosova during the Balkan war of the late 1990s.In Flying with Kites Alan describes how news reports of the conflict inspired him to find out more about life in a war zone and the experience of both being a refugee and a member of the community that hosts the refugee.The accuracy of that research has resulted in Alan being welcomed by the refugee community at several major Kosovan community events in the United Kingdom.

Michael Millward discusses the Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys with the author,  film maker Jack Jewers. Samuel Pepys wrote a diary that documented life in restoration London, including the return of Charles II, the plague and the great fire of London. Then he stops without explanation. The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys is Jack Jewers fictional account of what might have happened to Pepys.  As well as discussing this historical murder mystery Michael and Jack discuss the challenges of changing careers and moving from the very social career of film making to the solidary career of writer. Along the way they discuss the challenges of working from home, and living with someone who is successful at the activity that you are trying for the first time. They also examine the role that a dog adds to solving problems and putting the world to rights.