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In the second of two episodes about Georges by Alexander Dumas, John Yorke looks at the central theme of the book - race.

Although a mixed race man, Alexandre Dumas very seldom addressed the issue of race in his work. Georges is the only novel in which it plays any part. Published after the abolition of slavery in France but before France banned slavery in its colonies, the central themes of Georges are revenge, for a racial insult, and race. John Yorke looks at how the book approaches these issues and Dumas' attitude towards his own heritage.

John Yorke has worked in television and radio for nearly 30 years, and he shares his experience with Radio 4 listeners as he unpacks the themes and impact of the books, plays and stories that are being dramatized in Â鶹Éç Radio 4’s Sunday Drama series.

From EastEnders to the Archers, Life on Mars to Shameless, he has been obsessed with telling big popular stories. He has spent years analysing not just how stories work but why they resonate with audiences around the globe and has brought together his experience in his bestselling book Into the Woods. As former Head of Channel Four Drama, Controller of Â鶹Éç Drama Production and MD of Company Pictures, John has tested his theories during an extensive production career working on some of the world’s most lucrative, widely viewed and critically acclaimed TV drama. As founder of the hugely successful Â鶹Éç Writers Academy John has trained a generation of screenwriters - his students have had 17 green-lights in the last two years alone.

Contributors:
David Coward, Emeritus Professor of Literature at Leeds University
Tina Kover, Translator of the first English translation of Georges for more than a century
Dr Mike Phillips, Writer

Reading by Sam Dale

Credits:
Georges by Alexandre Dumas.
Publisher Modern Library Inc; Reprint edition (1 Sept. 2008)
Translator: Tina Kover

Produced by Alison Vernon-Smith
Executive Producer: Caroline Raphael
Sound by Sean Kerwin
Researcher: Nina Semple
Production Manager: Sarah Wright

A Pier production for Â鶹Éç Radio 4

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