Main content

France and Algeria, Birds, Augustus

Anne McElvoy discusses the relationship between France and its former colonies. Plus research about bird mating systems and the lessons to be learned from Roman emperor Augustus.

Anne McElvoy looks at the relationship between France and its former colonies, talking to David Bellos about his translation of a classic novel depicting the Algerian War - Daniel Anselme's On Leave - to Andrew Hussey, whose new book is called The French Intifada: the Long War Between France and Its Arabs, and to Dr Karima Laachir from SOAS at the University of London.

Professor Tim Birkhead is a Professor of Behavioural Ecology at Sheffield University. In his book Ten Thousand Birds he describes Ornithology Since Darwin. He talks to Anne about his research into bird mating systems.

Charlotte Higgins, author of Under Another Sky about Roman Britain, discusses the lessons we can learn from the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus, who died in AD 14.

Producer: Zahid Warley.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • France and its former colonies

    Anne McElvoy talks to David Bellos, Andrew Hussey and Dr Karima Laachir

    Duration: 22:09

  • Augustus

    Charlotte Higgins & the lessons we can learn from the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus

    Duration: 09:41

  • Bird mating

    Tim Birkhead talks to Anne about his research into bird mating systems

    Duration: 12:12

Charlotte Higgins

Charlotte Higgins

Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain written by Charlotte Higgins is published as a paperback on Thursday 6 March 2014.

Image Credit: Nana Varveropoulou

Andrew Hussey

Andrew Hussey

The French Intifada: The Long War Between France and its Arabs written by Andrew Hussey is published on Thursday 6 March 2014.

Image Credit: Jerry Bauer - Agence Opale

David Bellos

David Bellos
On Leave written by Daniel Anslme and translated by David Bellos is published on Tuesday 4 March 2014.

Tim Birkhead

Tim Birkhead
Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology since Darwin written by Tim Birkhead, Jo Wimpenny & Bob Montgomerie is published on Tuesday 25 February 2014.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Anne McElvoy
Interviewed Guest David Bellos
Interviewed Guest Andrew Hussey
Interviewed Guest Karima Laachir
Interviewed Guest Tim Birkhead
Interviewed Guest Charlotte Higgins
Producer Zahid Warley

Broadcast

  • Thu 20 Feb 2014 22:00

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

You can download all the past episodes of Radio 3's Free Thinking

Discussions and talks from the Free Thinking Festival 2019

Discussions and talks from the Free Thinking Festival 2019

Angry politics, what we can鈥檛 say, being diplomatic, weeping, emotion in music, film & TV

Click to listen to discussions, talks and music as the Free Thinking Festival 2019 Gets Emotional

Click to listen to discussions, talks and music as the Free Thinking Festival 2019 Gets Emotional

Angry politics, what we can鈥檛 say, being diplomatic, weeping, emotion in music, film & TV

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE programmes from the Free Thinking Festival 2018: The One & the Many

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE programmes from the Free Thinking Festival 2018: The One & the Many

We examine the fast-changing relationship between the individual & the crowd

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE all programmes, images, clips & features from 2017's festival

Free Thinking Festival 2017: The Speed of Life