AfterWords: Recent Episodes
Hurst Publishers
AfterWords explores the stories behind groundbreaking books. From colonialism and genocide to mysterious deaths and Brexit Britain, listen for lively discussions between authors and journalists. Produced by George McDonagh, for Hurst Publishers.
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Kim Jong Un and the Bomb by Ankit Panda is the extraordinary story of how a small, poor country became a nuclear power—and why we will have to live with it. Listen to Ankit in conversation with Tom Plant, director of proliferation and nuclear policy at RUSI, about the history of nuclear weapons in North Korea, why the programme is so important to Kim Jong Un, and what a nuclear armed North Korea means for the world.
The Great Decoupling by Nigel Inkster explores the growing technological rivalry between China and the United States. Listen to Nigel in conversation with Kerry Brown, specialist in Chinese international relations, history and politics, about the contest between the two countries and how the outcome will shape twenty-first century geopolitics.
African Europeans by Olivette Otele is a dazzling history revealing old and diverse links between the two continents. In this episode, listen to Olivette and historian and broadcaster Kate Williams discuss a landmark account of a crucial thread in Europe’s complex history.
The Son King by Madawi Al-Rasheed is a blistering new book revealing the ruthless repression in MBS’ Saudi Arabia. In this episode, listen to Madawi in conversation with writer and historian Justin Marozzi about the dangerous contradictions at the heart of the Saudi regime.
The Northumbrians by Dan Jackson is the bestselling book exploring North East England and its people. In this episode, listen to Dan in conversation with historian Tom Holland about the real story behind the region and what makes it so distinctive.
A Sunday Times History Book of the Year (2019) & A New Statesman Book of the Year (2019).
Everybody Knows is a searching and unflinching exposé of corruption in America by L.A. Times Book Prize winner Sarah Chayes. In this episode, listen to Sarah in conversation with author and Guardian foreign correspondent Luke Harding about the impacts of America’s rigged system and how it can be challenged.
AfterWords returns on 27th January 2021.
In this series, listen to Hurst authors and leading experts discuss the stories behind six recent, highly acclaimed books that are starting conversations everywhere. Investigate corruption in America with Sarah Chayes, discover North-East England and its people with Dan Jackson, and learn how North Korea became a nuclear power and why we’ll have to live with it from Ankit Panda. Hear the untold story of African Europeans by Olivette Otele, explore the growing rivalry between America and China with Nigel Inkster and find out about reform and repression in MBS’ Saudi Arabia from Madawi Al-Rasheed.
The Accidental Guerrilla by David Kilcullen was a Washington Post bestseller which transformed the theory and practice of counterinsurgency--and changed the way we think about war. Interviewed by The Economist’s Defence Editor Shashank Joshi, in this episode David shares his ground-breaking insights into the War on Terror.
The death of UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld remains one of the biggest mysteries of the twentieth century. Journalist and author Michela Wrong talks to author Susan Williams about ‘Who Killed Hammarskjöld?’, Susan’s thrilling book which investigated this suspicious death and sparked an ongoing UN investigation.
Anne McElvoy, senior editor at The Economist, interviews David Goodhart about his bestselling and highly influential book The Road to Somewhere. Examining the political and moral fault-lines that divide Brexit Britain, David’s framework of ‘Anywheres’ and ‘Somewheres’ has become a fixture in public debate about Brexit and the rise of populism.
Anthropologist Alpa Shah’s gripping book Nightmarch was shortlisted for the 2019 Orwell Prize for Political Writing. In this episode, author and journalist Sonia Faleiro talks to Alpa about her time living amongst India’s communist guerrillas, and the undercover journey she took with them in 2010.
The Rwanda Crisis by Gérard Prunier is the definitive and most comprehensive account of the conditions leading up to the Rwandan genocide and the events that followed. In this episode author and New York Times journalist Jeffrey Gettleman interviews Gérard about his heavily documented account of the horrors of 1994, and the complicity of France and other Western colonialists.
Shashi Tharoor’s book Inglorious Empire was a Sunday Times bestseller. It sparked a vital conversation about British views on empire, challenging predominant narratives. In this episode, author and Financial Times columnist Nilanjana Roy talks to Shashi Tharoor about this landmark book and how British imperialism devastated India.
Six defining books. Six defining conversations.
AfterWords explores the stories behind groundbreaking books.
In the first series, hear leading journalists in conversation with authors whose books have instigated debates, advanced knowledge and changed society. Discover how the British empire impacted India with Shashi Tharoor, investigate a UN Secretary General's mysterious death with Susan Williams, and learn about India's Maoist guerrillas with Alpa Shah. Examine Brexit Britain with David Goodhart and the Rwandan genocide with Gérard Prunier, and gain insight on counterinsurgency from expert David Kilcullen.
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