State Of The Nation

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Howard Jacobson

20200106

20200107 (R4)

In the first of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, a chance encounter forces Howard Jacobson to consider the true meaning of Brexit and ask if national togetherness is no more than a post-war pipe dream. Is the fractiousness of Brexit in fact a return to older and deeper habits? The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Nadifa Mohamed, James Meek and Jan Carson.

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: James Cook

Novelist Howard Jacobson considers the true meaning of Brexit.

Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: James Cook

Novelist Howard Jacobson considers the true meaning of Brexit.

Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.

We Live In The Sky

20140425

In the first in a series of hard-hitting stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society, Jenni Fagan tells the story of Okello, a young Ugandan boy trying to make sense of his new life in a London tower block. While his uncle is away, working round the clock to feed them, Okello wonders why life up in the clouds should be like this.

Reader: Damson Idris

Producer: Justine Willett

Writer: Jenni Fagan, one of Granta Magazine's '20 Best Novelists under the Age of 40' last year. She's the author of the acclaimed 'Panopticon'.

Jenni Fagan's story of a young Ugandan boy trying to make sense of life in a tower block.

Short stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society

Nadifa Mohamed

20200107

20200108 (R4)

In the second of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, Nadifa Mohamed recalls her family's arrival from Somalia when she was a young child and explains why it's only now that's she's ready to call the UK home. The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Howard Jacobson, James Meek and Jan Carson.

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: James Cook

Novelist Nadifa Mohamed explains why she's now ready to call the UK home.

Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: James Cook

Novelist Nadifa Mohamed explains why she's now ready to call the UK home.

Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.

Pot Luck

20140502

The second in a series of hard-hitting stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society in Britain today. In Lisa Blower's 'Pot Luck', a mother finds self-worth through those who have nothing in austerity-struck Stoke-on-Trent. The reader is Jaqueline Redgewell.

Producer: Justine Willett

Reader: Jacqueline Redgewell

Writer: Lisa Blower left full-time academia to become a writer in 2006. Her story 'Broken Crockery' won The Guardian's National Short Story Competition in 2009, and her story 'Barmouth' was shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award in 2013. Her first novel is titled 'Sitting Ducks'.

Jacqueline Redgewell reads Lisa Blower's story set among the have-nots of Stoke-on-Trent.

Short stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society

A Glass Of Cold Water

20140509

In the last in a series of stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society, a young labourer tries to find solace and work in austerity-struck rural Wales.

Cynan Jones is the acclaimed author of four novels. His first novel, 'The Long Dry' won a Betty Trask award. His most recent novel is 'The Dig', of which Jon day in The Telegraph said: 'The Dig is more than a bleak portrait of what is now called the 'rural economy'. It is a book about the essentials: life and death, cruelty and compassion. It is a book that will get in your bones, and haunt you.

Producer: Justine Willett

Reader: Robert Wilfort

Writer: Cynan Jones

By Cynan Jones. A Welsh labourer tries to find solace and escape in work.

Short stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society

Lionel Shriver

20200108

20200109 (R4)

In the third of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, Lionel Shriver examines the passions that drive both supporters and critics of Brexit and suggests that maybe the issue is not quite as important as we like to think. The series also hears from Howard Jacobson, Nadifa Mohamed, James Meek and Jan Carson.

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: James Cook

Novelist Lionel Shriver wonders why we care so much about Brexit.

Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: James Cook

Novelist Lionel Shriver wonders why we care so much about Brexit.

Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.

Jan Carson

20200109

20200110 (R4)

In the fourth of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, Jan Carson considers the importance of the art of listening and says it's time for UK politicians to learn a lesson from Northern Ireland. The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Nadifa Mohamed, James Meek and Howard Jacobson.

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: James Cook

Novelist Jan Carson makes a plea for the art of listening.

Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: James Cook

Novelist Jan Carson makes a plea for the art of listening.

Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.

James Meek

20200110

20200111 (R4)

In the last of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, James Meek explores the definitions that shape our idea of home - is it our family, our neighbourhood, our borders or the wider world? - and offers a new approach to defining where we belong in a divided nation. The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Nadifa Mohamed, Howard Jacobson and Jan Carson.

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: James Cook

Novelist James Meek on the idea of home.

Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.

Producer: Jo Glanville

Editor: James Cook

Novelist James Meek on the idea of home.

Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Howard Jacobson	20200106	20200107 (R4)	In the first of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, a chance encounter forces Howard Jacobson to consider the true meaning of Brexit and ask if national togetherness is no more than a post-war pipe dream. Is the fractiousness of Brexit in fact a return to older and deeper habits? The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Nadifa Mohamed, James Meek and Jan Carson. Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: James Cook Novelist Howard Jacobson considers the true meaning of Brexit. Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020. In the first of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, a chance encounter forces Howard Jacobson to consider the true meaning of Brexit and ask if national togetherness is no more than a post-war pipe dream. Is the fractiousness of Brexit in fact a return to older and deeper habits? The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Nadifa Mohamed, James Meek and Jan Carson. Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: James Cook Novelist Howard Jacobson considers the true meaning of Brexit. Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.
01	We Live In The Sky	20140425		In the first in a series of hard-hitting stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society, Jenni Fagan tells the story of Okello, a young Ugandan boy trying to make sense of his new life in a London tower block. While his uncle is away, working round the clock to feed them, Okello wonders why life up in the clouds should be like this. Reader: Damson Idris Producer: Justine Willett Writer: Jenni Fagan, one of Granta Magazine's '20 Best Novelists under the Age of 40' last year. She's the author of the acclaimed 'Panopticon'. Jenni Fagan's story of a young Ugandan boy trying to make sense of life in a tower block. Short stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society
02	Nadifa Mohamed	20200107	20200108 (R4)	In the second of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, Nadifa Mohamed recalls her family's arrival from Somalia when she was a young child and explains why it's only now that's she's ready to call the UK home. The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Howard Jacobson, James Meek and Jan Carson. Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: James Cook Novelist Nadifa Mohamed explains why she's now ready to call the UK home. Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020. In the second of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, Nadifa Mohamed recalls her family's arrival from Somalia when she was a young child and explains why it's only now that's she's ready to call the UK home. The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Howard Jacobson, James Meek and Jan Carson. Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: James Cook Novelist Nadifa Mohamed explains why she's now ready to call the UK home. Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.
02	Pot Luck	20140502		The second in a series of hard-hitting stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society in Britain today. In Lisa Blower's 'Pot Luck', a mother finds self-worth through those who have nothing in austerity-struck Stoke-on-Trent. The reader is Jaqueline Redgewell. Producer: Justine Willett Reader: Jacqueline Redgewell Writer: Lisa Blower left full-time academia to become a writer in 2006. Her story 'Broken Crockery' won The Guardian's National Short Story Competition in 2009, and her story 'Barmouth' was shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award in 2013. Her first novel is titled 'Sitting Ducks'. Jacqueline Redgewell reads Lisa Blower's story set among the have-nots of Stoke-on-Trent. Short stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society
03	A Glass Of Cold Water	20140509		In the last in a series of stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society, a young labourer tries to find solace and work in austerity-struck rural Wales. Cynan Jones is the acclaimed author of four novels. His first novel, 'The Long Dry' won a Betty Trask award. His most recent novel is 'The Dig', of which Jon day in The Telegraph said: 'The Dig is more than a bleak portrait of what is now called the 'rural economy'. It is a book about the essentials: life and death, cruelty and compassion. It is a book that will get in your bones, and haunt you. Producer: Justine Willett Reader: Robert Wilfort Writer: Cynan Jones By Cynan Jones. A Welsh labourer tries to find solace and escape in work. Short stories looking at the lives of those living on the economic margins of society
03	Lionel Shriver	20200108	20200109 (R4)	In the third of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, Lionel Shriver examines the passions that drive both supporters and critics of Brexit and suggests that maybe the issue is not quite as important as we like to think. The series also hears from Howard Jacobson, Nadifa Mohamed, James Meek and Jan Carson. Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: James Cook Novelist Lionel Shriver wonders why we care so much about Brexit. Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020. In the third of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, Lionel Shriver examines the passions that drive both supporters and critics of Brexit and suggests that maybe the issue is not quite as important as we like to think. The series also hears from Howard Jacobson, Nadifa Mohamed, James Meek and Jan Carson. Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: James Cook Novelist Lionel Shriver wonders why we care so much about Brexit. Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.
04	Jan Carson	20200109	20200110 (R4)	In the fourth of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, Jan Carson considers the importance of the art of listening and says it's time for UK politicians to learn a lesson from Northern Ireland. The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Nadifa Mohamed, James Meek and Howard Jacobson. Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: James Cook Novelist Jan Carson makes a plea for the art of listening. Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020. In the fourth of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, Jan Carson considers the importance of the art of listening and says it's time for UK politicians to learn a lesson from Northern Ireland. The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Nadifa Mohamed, James Meek and Howard Jacobson. Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: James Cook Novelist Jan Carson makes a plea for the art of listening. Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.
05	James Meek	20200110	20200111 (R4)	In the last of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, James Meek explores the definitions that shape our idea of home - is it our family, our neighbourhood, our borders or the wider world? - and offers a new approach to defining where we belong in a divided nation. The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Nadifa Mohamed, Howard Jacobson and Jan Carson. Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: James Cook Novelist James Meek on the idea of home. Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020. In the last of a series of five talks by British novelists reflecting on the state of the nation, James Meek explores the definitions that shape our idea of home - is it our family, our neighbourhood, our borders or the wider world? - and offers a new approach to defining where we belong in a divided nation. The series also hears from Lionel Shriver, Nadifa Mohamed, Howard Jacobson and Jan Carson. Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: James Cook Novelist James Meek on the idea of home. Five leading writers on the state of Britain in January 2020.