What Is a Story?

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 LW

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

What Is a Story?: It's All Absolutely True

It's All Absolutely True

BBC Radio 4 - What Is a Story?, It's All Absolutely True

Marina Warner looks at the world of contemporary storytelling.

Marina Warner looks at the world of contemporary storytelling and considers whether “it’s all absolutely true”. From 2015.

Marina Warner considers whether “it’s all absolutely true”.  

A look at the world of contemporary fiction.  In the company of leading contemporary writers, she considers a story and story writing from a different angle.

Marina speaks with writers as diverse as Julian Barnes, Michelle Roberts, Fanny Howe, Marlene van Niekerk, Alain Mabanckou, Lydia Davis, Edwin Frank, Elleke Boehmer, Wen-Chin Ouyang, Daniel Medin, Nadeem Aslam and Laszlo Krasznahorkai.

There are questions around the boundaries between fact and fiction which Marina believes are central to any consideration of storytelling, since readers' pleasure depends so much on trust built up between the storyteller or writer and the audience.

With discussions on the reasons for writing, writers as witnesses and political interaction.

Marina was Chair of the Man Booker International Prize 2015 and the series draws on the expertise of the International Booker judging panel, the views of the shortlisted writers, as well as other key literary talent.

Producer: Kevin Dawson
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio first broadcast in July 2015.

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

Documentaries

Factual

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Marina Warner explores the world of contemporary fiction

Marina Warner, in the company of leading international writers, explores the world of contemporary fiction

Accessibility links

Programme Index

What Is a Story?

It's All Absolutely True

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4