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Germany: Memories of a Nation

Documentaries

Factual: History

Neil MacGregor explores 600 years of Germany's complex and often challenging history.

Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, explores 600 years of Germany's complex and often challenging history using objects, art, landmarks and literature.

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Germany: Memories of a Nation: Kafka, Kant and Lost Capitals

Kafka, Kant and Lost Capitals

01/10/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Germany: Memories of a Nation, Kafka, Kant and Lost Capitals

Neil MacGregor visits Kaliningrad, now in Russia but formerly the German city Konigsberg.

Neil MacGregor visits Kaliningrad, now in Russia but formerly the German city Konigsberg, home of the philosopher Kant. He also visits Prague, birthplace of writer Franz Kafka.

Continuing the week's theme of Germany's floating frontiers, Neil MacGregor visits two cities now beyond Germany's present borders, but which played important roles in Germany's intellectual and literary history. 

Kaliningrad, on the Baltic, became part of the Soviet Union in 1945, and is now part of Russia. But for centuries it was Königsberg, a major Prussian city, and birthplace of the philosopher Immanuel Kant - and so central to the intellectual history of Germany.

Neil also visits the Czech city of Prague, once home to a large German-speaking community, which included Franz Kafka, one of the most acclaimed writers in the German language.

Today neither Russian-speaking Kaliningrad nor Czech-speaking Prague are in any sense German - but what is their place within the memories of Germany?

Producer Paul Kobrak.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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