Main content

Allan Massie - A Question of Loyalties

James Naughtie presents from the Edinburgh Festivals, where Allan Massie discusses his novel A Question of Loyalties, about the divisions in France during World War II.

With James Naughtie. Recorded at the 大象传媒 at the Edinburgh Festivals, Allan Massie discusses his novel A Question of Loyalties. First published in 1989, the book is widely acclaimed as his finest.

The novel engages with all the complexities and ambiguities of loyalty and nationality as it follows a family through the divisions in France during World War II, and the repercussions which last for decades.

In the early 1950s Etienne de Balafr茅 strives to find out what happened to his father when the German invasion of 1940 divided the country between collaboration and resistance. Where some might see an accomplice, the author Allan Massie seeks to understand a human being making difficult choices.

As always on Bookclub, a group of especially invited readers join in the discussion.

October's Bookclub choice : Dirt Music by Tim Winton (2002)

Presenter : James Naughtie
Interviewed Guest : Allan Massie
Producer : Dymphna Flynn.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Thu 11 Sep 2014 15:30

Broadcasts

  • Sun 7 Sep 2014 16:00
  • Thu 11 Sep 2014 15:30

How many of these 100 Novels have you read?

How many of these 100 Novels have you read?

After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.

Bookclub at 20

Bookclub at 20

Sebastian Faulks, Naomi Alderman and more select favourite editions of the programme

Sample our books and authors Clip Collection

Interviews, previews and reviews

Short stories to keep

The fiction podcast featuring the best stories from the UK's finest writers

Books

Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.

Podcast