This week Libby Purves is joined by Peter Brookes, Alexandra Fuller, Albie Sachs and Niamh Cusack.

Peter Brookes is the political cartoonist for The Times newspaper and the current British Cartoonist of the Year. His book, 'Hard Times' is his latest collection of outrageous sketches of contemporary and political life. 'Hard Times' is published by Biteback Publishing.

Alexandra Fuller is a writer. Her new book 'Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness' is an exploration of her family; at its heart is the story of her mother, Nicola. Born on the Isle of Skye and raised in Kenya, Nicola holds dear the values most likely to get you killed in Africa: loyalty to blood, passion for land and the holy belief in the restorative power of all animals. 'Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness' is published by Simon & Schuster.

Albie Sachs is a former high-court judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and one of the architects of the South African constitution. During the apartheid years, whilst in exile in Mozambique, his car was blown up by South African security agents and he lost an arm and an eye. He republishes his book 'The Soft Vengeance of a Freedom Fighter', an account of his journey, and his country's, from apartheid to a new South Africa with a moving chapter in which he tries to explain to his young son about apartheid. 'The Soft Vengeance of a Freedom Fighter' is published by Souvenir Press.

Niamh Cusack is an Irish actor who has worked extensively in theatre and television. She became a household name in 1992 in ITV's 'Heartbeat' and was recently seen as Edith Davenport in the critically acclaimed production of Rattigan's 'Cause Célèbre' at The Old Vic, She is currently starring as Widow Quinn in JM Synge's 'The Playboy of the Western World' at The Old Vic in London.

Producer: Chris Paling. Show less