Pride Or Prejudice - How We Read Now

Episodes

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01Reading Novels20211026Novels have always sparked controversy. Lady Chatterley's Lover, Lolita and American Psycho were all subject to fierce attacks.

But something is happening now that feels different - a rolling boil of social media outrage and news stories that are not about one novel but about the very nature of reading and writing fiction.

As publishers call in sensitivity readers, universities introduce content warnings and authors face charges of cultural appropriation, Abigail Williams, Professor of English at the University of Oxford, looks beyond the outrage to explore the power of the novel.

In this first programme in the series, Abigail considers the novel from the perspective of the reader, immersed in the values and identities of fictional characters and their imaginary worlds.

Contributors include the Booker Prize shortlisted novelist Nadifa Mohamed, writer and actress Sarah Solemani (who recently adapted the novel Ridley Road for BBC One), literary agent Jonny Geller and the novelists Jo Bloom and Sara Collins.

Books featured include Saul Bellow's Herzog and Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give.

Producer: Julia Johnson

Series Producer: Julia Johnson

Executive Producer: Steven Rajam

An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 4

Professor Abigail Williams explores changing views of the novel.

01Reading Novels2021102620220103 (R4)Novels have always sparked controversy. Lady Chatterley's Lover, Lolita and American Psycho were all subject to fierce attacks.

But something is happening now that feels different - a rolling boil of social media outrage and news stories that are not about one novel but about the very nature of reading and writing fiction.

As publishers call in sensitivity readers, universities introduce content warnings and authors face charges of cultural appropriation, Abigail Williams, Professor of English at the University of Oxford, looks beyond the outrage to explore the power of the novel.

In this first programme in the series, Abigail considers the novel from the perspective of the reader, immersed in the values and identities of fictional characters and their imaginary worlds.

Contributors include the Booker Prize shortlisted novelist Nadifa Mohamed, writer and actress Sarah Solemani (who recently adapted the novel Ridley Road for BBC One), literary agent Jonny Geller and the novelists Jo Bloom and Sara Collins.

Books featured include Saul Bellow's Herzog and Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give.

Producer: Julia Johnson

Series Producer: Julia Johnson

Executive Producer: Steven Rajam

An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 4

Professor Abigail Williams explores changing views of the novel.

02Teaching Novels20211102Novels have always sparked controversy. Lady Chatterley's Lover, Lolita and American Psycho were all subject to fierce attacks.

But something is happening now that feels different - a rolling boil of social media outrage and news stories that are not about one novel but about the very nature of reading, studying and writing fiction.

In an era of content warnings, cancel culture and calls to decolonise the curriculum, Abigail Williams, Professor of English at the University of Oxford, asks how today's students are reading the novel.

From Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe to Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 by the way of the television campus comedy The Chair, Abigail finds a path through outrage and offence as she explores new approaches to teaching and studying the novel.

Producer: Julia Johnson

Series Producer: Julia Johnson

Executive Producer: Steven Rajam

An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 4

Professor Abigail Williams asks how today's English students are reading the novel.

Professor Abigail Williams explores changing views of the novel.

02Teaching Novels2021110220220104 (R4)Novels have always sparked controversy. Lady Chatterley's Lover, Lolita and American Psycho were all subject to fierce attacks.

But something is happening now that feels different - a rolling boil of social media outrage and news stories that are not about one novel but about the very nature of reading, studying and writing fiction.

In an era of content warnings, cancel culture and calls to decolonise the curriculum, Abigail Williams, Professor of English at the University of Oxford, asks how today's students are reading the novel.

From Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe to Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 by the way of the television campus comedy The Chair, Abigail finds a path through outrage and offence as she explores new approaches to teaching and studying the novel.

Producer: Julia Johnson

Series Producer: Julia Johnson

Executive Producer: Steven Rajam

An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 4

Professor Abigail Williams asks how today's English students are reading the novel.

Professor Abigail Williams explores changing views of the novel.

03Writing Novels20211109Novels have always sparked controversy. Lady Chatterley's Lover, Lolita and American Psycho were all subject to fierce attacks.

But something is happening now that feels different - a rolling boil of social media outrage and news stories that are not about one novel but about the very nature of reading and writing fiction.

As publishers call in sensitivity readers, universities introduce content warnings and authors face charges of cultural appropriation, Abigail Williams, Professor of English at the University of Oxford, looks beyond the outrage to explore the power of the novel.

In this final episode, Abigail asks how the writing and publishing of novels is changing.

How are novelists, literary agents and publishers navigating today's literary landscape amid concerns about identity, representation and the prejudices of authors past and present?

Contributors include the literary agent Jonny Geller of Curtis Brown, publisher Sharmaine Lovegrove of Dialogue Books, Telegraph journalist Tim Stanley and the novelists Sara Collins, Leaf Arbuthnot and Nadifa Mohamed.

Produced by Julia Johnson and Leo Hornak

Series Producer: Julia Johnson

Executive Producer: Steven Rajam

Readings by Maxine Peake and Viviana Armas

An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 4

Professor Abigail Williams explores changing views of the novel.

03Writing Novels2021110920220106 (R4)Novels have always sparked controversy. Lady Chatterley's Lover, Lolita and American Psycho were all subject to fierce attacks.

But something is happening now that feels different - a rolling boil of social media outrage and news stories that are not about one novel but about the very nature of reading and writing fiction.

As publishers call in sensitivity readers, universities introduce content warnings and authors face charges of cultural appropriation, Abigail Williams, Professor of English at the University of Oxford, looks beyond the outrage to explore the power of the novel.

In this final episode, Abigail asks how the writing and publishing of novels is changing.

How are novelists, literary agents and publishers navigating today's literary landscape amid concerns about identity, representation and the prejudices of authors past and present?

Contributors include the literary agent Jonny Geller of Curtis Brown, publisher Sharmaine Lovegrove of Dialogue Books, Telegraph journalist Tim Stanley and the novelists Sara Collins, Leaf Arbuthnot and Nadifa Mohamed.

Produced by Julia Johnson and Leo Hornak

Series Producer: Julia Johnson

Executive Producer: Steven Rajam

Readings by Maxine Peake and Viviana Armas

An Overcoat Media production for BBC Radio 4

Professor Abigail Williams explores changing views of the novel.