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Donna Tartt; Forest Whitaker

American author Donna Tartt on The Goldfinch, her first new novel in over a decade; Forest Whitaker on The Butler, inspired by the real-life story of a black White House butler.

With Mark Lawson

Author Donna Tartt discusses her long-awaited third novel, The Goldfinch. Like her previous books, The Secret History and The Little Friend, The Goldfinch has taken Tartt a decade to write. The plot centres around the theft of a priceless painting, the goldfinch of the title, which is stolen from a museum after a horrific bombing in the opening chapters. Donna Tartt talks about the long gestation period for her novels, and how studying Greek tragedy informed the book's structure.

Actor Forest Whitaker discusses his starring role in The Butler, a film inspired by the real-life story of a White House butler who served during seven presidential administrations. Through the eyes of the butler and his family, the film follows the changing tides in American politics and race relations - from the assassinations of John F Kennedy and Martin Luther King, to the Black Panthers, and Watergate.

The Pet Shop Boys' latest single is called Thursday. David Quantick considers which days of the week are the least-loved, by songwriters.

Producer Rebecca Nicholson.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Donna Tartt

    Duration: 14:16

  • Days of the week in song

    Duration: 04:11

  • Forest Whitaker

    Duration: 09:15

Donna Tartt

Donna Tartt
by Donna Tartt is out now published by Little, Brown. 聽

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker
Image: Forest Whitaker with presenter Mark Lawson

The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and directed by Lee Daniels, is in cinemas from tomorrow (Friday 15 November 2013), certificate 12A.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Mark Lawson
Presenter David Quantick
Interviewed Guest Donna Tartt
Interviewed Guest Forest Whitaker
Producer Rebecca Nicholson

Broadcast

  • Thu 14 Nov 2013 19:15

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