Isabel Hilton's guest is historian and television presenter Simon Schama, who explains why he thinks that a new translation of the classic novel War and Peace further enhances the great work for English-speaking readers.
John Light as Michaelangelo in The Giant by Anthony Sher
Photo by Ellie Kurttz
Playlist
Simon Schama
On Night Waves the historian Simon Schama will be doing his level best to persuade you that now is the time to read War and Peace. Just a few days after bonfire night when the fanciful might still be able to smell gunpowder on the air or catch a glimpse of a windblown spark, he's hoping to kindle enough interest to set you reading. His advocacy is no accident either because as happens from time to time there's a brand new translation of 'War and Peace'. This one is the work of Larissa Volokhonsky and Richard Pevea, two of the most brilliant translators working today. Isabel Hilton will be asking Simon Schama why Tolstoy's book is his all time favourite, what his first impressions of the book were and of course what he, as a historian, makes of Tolstoy's account of the Napoleonic War.
War and Peace by Larissa Volokhonsky, Leo Tolstoy and Richard Pevear is published by Vintage
Lions for Lambs
Nigel Floyd will be talking to Isabel about Robert Redford's new film, 'Lions for Lambs'
Lions for Lambs, certificate 15, opens on Friday 9 November
The People's Choice
Isabel will be talking to the winner of this year's competition to choose the subject of The People's Choice debate at Radio Three's Free Thinking Festival in Liverpool which begins this Friday. BBC - Radio 3 - Free Thinking 2007
The Giant
Theatre critic, Susannah Clapp will be reviewing Anthony Sher's new play, 'The Giant'.
The Giant is playing at Hampstead Theatre, London until 2 December
