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.
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Clip
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Forest Whitaker on playing The Butler
Duration: 02:51
Chapters
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Donna Tartt
Duration: 14:16
Days of the week in song
Duration: 04:11
Forest Whitaker
Duration: 09:15
Donna Tartt
by Donna Tartt is out now published by Little, Brown. 聽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麻豆社 Radio 4
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Front Row
Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music