Zadie Smith on social mobility
Stephanie Flanders discusses social mobility with Zadie Smith, David Kynaston, David Willetts MP and Owen Jones.
On Start the Week Stephanie Flanders discusses social mobility. Zadie Smith's novel NW is a portrait of modern urban life in which characters try, but mostly fail, to escape their past. The Conservative Minister David Willetts and the columnist Owen Jones discuss what meritocracy and opportunity mean in today's society. And the social historian David Kynaston looks to the end of the 1950s when meritocracy became the buzz word of the day.
Producer: Katy Hickman.
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Zadie Smith on meritocracy and opportunity
Duration: 02:06
Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith is an author.
NW is out in paperback, published by Penguin.
David Kynaston
David Kynaston is a historian.
Modernity Britain: Opening the Box, 1957-59 is published by Bloomsbury.
David Willetts
David Willetts is the Member of Parliament for Havant and Minister for Universities and Science.
Owen Jones
Owen Jones is a columnist for The Independent.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Stephanie Flanders |
| Interviewed Guest | Zadie Smith |
| Interviewed Guest | David Willetts |
| Interviewed Guest | David Kynaston |
| Interviewed Guest | Owen Jones |
| Producer | Katy Hickman |
Broadcasts
- Mon 24 Jun 201309:00BBC Radio 4
- Mon 24 Jun 201321:30BBC Radio 4
Podcast
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Start the Week
Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday
