大象传媒

Gretchen Gerzina says that she鈥檚 drawn to writing about those who cross boundaries of time, place, and race. During a distinguished academic career, she鈥檚 explored the lives of black people in 18th- and 19th-century Britain and America, and she presented a ten-part series on Britain鈥檚 Black Past for Radio 4. She also has a passion for 19th-century children鈥檚 books and has written a biography of Secret Garden author Frances Hodgson Burnett - and a biography of Bloomsbury artist Dora Carrington.

Gerzina herself has spent a life moving back and forth between two cultures, Britain and the US. Currently Professor of English at the University of Massachusetts, as well as teaching, she鈥檚 also now writing a memoir about growing up mixed-race in America; she says: 鈥淚t鈥檚 time to put the past to bed.鈥�

Her music choices reflect her interest in 18th- and 19th-century black composers and include Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Joseph Boulogne. She reveals, too, a passion for Early Music, with Corelli and Purcell, whose exuberant 鈥淲elcome, Welcome Glorious Morn鈥� heads her playlist.

Produced by Elizabeth Burke
A Loftus Media production for 大象传媒 Radio 3