The Justice Season of the podcast continues through the autumn 2020, a fortnight and many books at a time. For episode four, we're delighted to share a conversation with Zimbabwean writer Petina Gappah about her latest novel 'Out of Darkness, Shining Light'. It's a story twenty years in the making which follows the last journey of David Livingstone in 1873, as he was carried by his African companions toward the coast, so that he could be buried in England.
Petina Gappah is the author of two short story collections, starting with 'Elegy for Easterley' which won the the Guardian First Book Award, and the novel 'The Book of Memory', which has been a firm favourite on the Mr B's shelves since its publication in in 2015. She's also an international-trade lawyer. Join Petina and Jess as they talk about choosing two characters out of almost a hundred, justice versus equity, and the teaching of colonial history in UK schools.
Hosted by Jessica Gaitan Johannesson. Music by the Bookshop Band.
Have a look at a reading list of all the books mentioned in this episode HERE.
In the third episode of our Justice Season, we talk to writer, poet, editor and all-round fantastic word- person John Freeman. Editor of the biannual Freemans, and former editor of Granta magazine, John is the author of books of nonfiction such as 'Dictionary of the Undoing', as well as two collections of poems: 'Maps' and 'The Park'. Since 2014 he's edited three anthologies of writing about inequality: 'Tales of Two Cities', focusing on New York, 'Tales of Two Americas', and this year, 'Tales of Two Planets'. The latter brings a plethora of climate-crisis realities, in essays, fiction and poems, to the reader, carried through by voices which are intimate, visionary, varied and essential.
In this episode, Jess talks to John about what the much used term climate justice means, the challenges of addressing the climate crisis in fiction, and what kind of writing moves us to take action.
Hosted by Jessica Gaitan Johannesson
Explore the books mentioned in this episode HERE.
Join us as we plunge deeper into versions and stories of justice in the second episode of our autumn 2020 season.</p>
Niven Govinden is the author of five novels, most recently 'This Brutal House', which was published in 2019. In this episode, Jess chats to Niven about the vogue culture of New York City, chosen families, community, and 'eco-systems of protest'. Niven also reads some mesmerising experts from 'This brutal House' throughout the episode.
This is such a special one. We hope you enjoy it!</p>
For more reading exploration, you can find a book list curated by Niven Govinden HERE.