Main content

Jerry Brotton on Elizabethan England and the Islamic World

Rana Mitter explores links between Elizabethan England and the Islamic world with Jerry Brotton and Elif Shafak. Plus John Breuilly on nationalism, and author Gillian Slovo.

Jerry Brotton talks to Rana Mitter about the links between Elizabethan England and the Islamic World. They're joined in studio for a conversation about the history and growth of nationalism around the world by the Turkish novelist Elif Shafak, by Professor John Breuilly from the London School of Economics and by the novelist Gillian Slovo - who has written a thriller inspired by the Tottenham riots and a verbatim drama based on interviews asking why young Muslim men and women from across Western Europe are leaving their homes to answer the call of Jihad.

This Orient Isle: Elizabethan England and the Islamic World by Jerry Brotton - Professor of Renaissance Studies in the Department of
English, Queen Mary, University of London is out now and is being read on Radio 4 as this week's Book of the Week.
The Radio 3 Sunday Feature he presented on The Venice Ghetto is available on the i player or as a download from Radio 3's website.

Another World: Losing Our Children to Islamic State written by Gillian Slovo and directed by Nicolas Kent is at the temporary space at the National Theatre from 9th April to 7th May.
Gillian Slovo's novel is called Ten Days.

Professor John Breuilly is the editor of the Oxford Handbook of the History of Nationalism which is out in paperback in April.

Elif Shafak's most recent novel is The Architect's Apprentice.

Available now

45 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Interviewed Guest Jerry Brotton
Presenter Rana Mitter
Interviewed Guest Elif Shafak
Interviewed Guest John Breuilly
Interviewed Guest Gillian Slovo
Producer Ruth Watts

Broadcast

  • Wed 30 Mar 2016 22:00

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

You can download all the past episodes of Radio 3's Free Thinking

Discussions and talks from the Free Thinking Festival 2019

Discussions and talks from the Free Thinking Festival 2019

Angry politics, what we can鈥檛 say, being diplomatic, weeping, emotion in music, film & TV

Click to listen to discussions, talks and music as the Free Thinking Festival 2019 Gets Emotional

Click to listen to discussions, talks and music as the Free Thinking Festival 2019 Gets Emotional

Angry politics, what we can鈥檛 say, being diplomatic, weeping, emotion in music, film & TV

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE programmes from the Free Thinking Festival 2018: The One & the Many

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE programmes from the Free Thinking Festival 2018: The One & the Many

We examine the fast-changing relationship between the individual & the crowd

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE all programmes, images, clips & features from 2017's festival

Free Thinking Festival 2017: The Speed of Life