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Man Ray, Paris, William Dalrymple, Oliver James

Presented by Anne McElvoy. With William Dalrymple on Britain's first Afghan war, an exhibition of Man Ray photography, Paris in the 1910s and 20s, Oliver James on office politics.

Anne McElvoy talks to the best selling historian William Dalrymple about his new book Return of A King - an account of Britain's first Afghan War in the 19th century which draws compelling parallels with the challenges the West faces in the region today.

As a major retrospective of the surrealist portrait photographer Man Ray opens at the National Portrait Gallery, Anne discusses his work with writer Kevin Jackson and film critic and Parisienne Ginette Vincendeau.

And all three are joined by cultural historian Andrew Hussey to discuss the artistic melting pot in which Ray worked: the Paris of the 1910s and Roaring 20s, which is the subject of the second major event at The Rest is Noise Festival at the South Bank centre in London.

Psychologist Oliver James discusses office politics and how to thrive in what he sees as an increasingly ruthless workplace. With leadership expert and author Dr Liz Mellon.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • William Dalrymple

    Anne talks to William Dalrymple about his new book Return of A King.

    Duration: 13:19

  • Man Ray Exhibition

    A major retrospective of Man Ray opens at the National Portrait Gallery.

    Duration: 07:10

  • Paris in the 1910s & 1920s

    Paris of the 1910s and Roaring 20s is the subject of a major event in London.

    Duration: 12:17

  • Oliver James

    Oliver James discusses his new book Oliver鈥檚 Office Politics with Dr Liz Mellon.

    Duration: 11:10

William Dalrymple

Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan written by William Dalrymple is published by Bloomsbury Publishing.

Man Ray

Man Ray Portraits is on at the National Portrait Gallery, London from Thursday 7 February until Monday 27 May 2013.

The Rest Is Noise

The Rest Is Noise in partnership with the 大象传媒 and the London Philarmonic is on at the Southbank Centre until Saturday 14 December 2013.

Oliver James

Office Politics: How to Thrive in a World of Lying, Backstabbing and Dirty Tricks written by Oliver James is published by Vermilion.

Broadcast

  • Thu 7 Feb 2013 22:00

Free Thinking

Free Thinking

Radio 3鈥檚 new home for arts and ideas.