Free Thinking

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

The ideas shaping our lives today - with artists and thinkers in debates and interviews.

The ideas shaping our lives today - with leading artists and thinkers in extended interview and debate.

Free Thinking: Orhan Pamuk and the Ottoman Empire

Orhan Pamuk and the Ottoman Empire

BBC Radio 4 - Free Thinking, Orhan Pamuk and the Ottoman Empire

Nobel Prize-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk joins academics Michael Talbot and Keya Anjaria.

Rana Mitter looks at the end of the Ottoman empire with historian Michael Talbot, literary scholar Keya Anjaria and Orhan Pamuk, whose latest novel Nights of Plague is set then.

A pandemic, crumbling empire and new nationhood are the backdrop for Orhan Pamuk's latest novel Nights of the Plague. He talks to Rana Mitter about the historical basis for his novel.  They're joined by historian and BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinker Michael Talbot and literary scholar Keya Anjaria. 

Some of the books they recommend at the end of the conversation are 
Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar (1901 – 1962) whose The Time Regulation Institute and A Mind at Peace have been published in English by Penguin      
Halide Edib Adıvar (1884 – 1964) whose memoirs have been published in English
Yasher Kemal (1923 – 2015) author of Mehmet My Hawk 
Orhan Kemal - the pen name of Turkish novelist Mehmet Raşit Öğütçü (1914 - 1970) whose books describe the life of the poor in Turkey 
Oğuz Atay (1934 - 1977) a pioneer of the modern novel whose The Disconnected has become a best-seller 
Latife Tekin (1957 - ) 
and the film-maker Yılmaz Güney (1937 - 1984)   

Producer Luke Mulhall 

You can find more conversations about Turkish history on the Free Thinking website list of past programmes: 
Michael Talbot discussed aspects of the Ottoman empire with Alev Scott https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000qj7 
Orhan Pamuk compared notes with Edmund de Waal https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06cb0hz
Jeremy Seal and Ecce Temelkuran discussed Adnam Menderes and populism https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000s9hq 
Elif Shafak discussed her novel 10 Minutes, 38 Seconds in this Strange World  https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00066qd

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