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Odysseus heroically leaves to fight at Troy. In so doing he deserts his wife and, shamefully, his son, Telemachus. Sarah Howe explores the parallels with family life in China today.
In China today many children are left in rural villages with grandparents while their parents work vast distances away in the coastal cities. Odysseus, similarly, abandons his son Telemachus and goes to war. Sarah Howe, winner of the T. S.Eliot Award, was born in Hong Kong. In her response to Homer Telemachus is a Chinese girl left in the countryside. She wants to leave, but for reasons more complicated than to look for her father.
Producer: Julian May.
Last on
Thu 27 Apr 201700:30
BBC Radio 4
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Writer | Sarah Howe |
| Producer | Julian May |
Broadcasts
- Wed 26 Apr 201709:45BBC Radio 4 FM
- Thu 27 Apr 201700:30BBC Radio 4
