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Helen Dunmore

Mariella Frostrup talks to Helen Dunmore about her new novel Birdcage Walk where a radical young woman finds herself at odds with her ambitious husband.

Acclaimed novelist Helen Dunmore talks about her latest novel Birdcage Walk, set in her home town of Bristol against the backdrop of the French Revolution. Lizzie a hot headed young woman is forced to confront the differences between her idealistic mother and man-of-action husband. Once again Dunmore creates her trademark mix of ordinary lives played out in tumultuous times, also seen in books like The Siege and A Spell of Winter. Lizzie's husband faces ruin and her family are forced to question their ideals thanks to the long shadow cast by events in France. Helen Dunmore also talks movingly about being diagnosed with a serious illness while writing this novel, and how that affected her work.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Thu 16 Mar 2017 15:30

Chapters

  • Helen Dunmore

    Duration: 20:33

  • Fiona Kidman discusses The Book I'd Never Lend

    Duration: 05:42

Read the first chapter of Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore

Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore:

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Mariella Frostrup
Interviewed Guest Helen Dunmore

Broadcasts

  • Sun 12 Mar 2017 16:00
  • Thu 16 Mar 2017 15:30

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