Arts and Ideas

With Anne McElvoy. Paul Allen reviews 'Tis a Pity She's a Whore. Translator Michael Hoffman and biographer Jenny Williams discuss Hans Fallada. A look at democracy through the history of energy. And an interview with artist Jeremy Deller.

With Matthew Sweet. French philosopher Pascal Bruckner and the author Lisa Appignanesi discuss Free Love. Piers Paul Read explores what place Catholicism has in modern British public life. A review of a new documentary about producer and director Roger Corman. And writer Louis de Bernieres talks about a new film adaptation of his novel Red Dog.

With Anne McElvoy. We discuss the fraught relationship between religion and politics. Anne Karpf reviews the Oscar-nominated Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. A look at the friendship of Piet Mondrian and Ben Nicholson. And politician Fawzia Koofi outlines her one woman fight to lead Afghanistan into the future.

With Philip Dodd. Julia Lovell and Richard Cork talk about 'Waste Not', the first solo exhibition in the UK by the Chinese artist Song Dong. Stefan Collini, Dougald Hine, Roey Sweet and Deborah Bowman tackle universities. And posthumous pardons: should we alter past verdicts?

The Turkish novelist Elif Shafak talks to Rana Mitter in an interview recorded at last year's Free Thinking Festival in Gateshead.

With Matthew Sweet. Artist Brad Lochore reviews a new exhibition at Tate Britain: Picasso and Modern British Art. Phil Agland talks about his new documentary about the Baka people in Cameroon. An audience goes speed-dating with a New Generation Thinker from the Free Thinking Festival last year. And Josie Rourke talks about her new appointment as Creative Director of London's Donmar Warehouse theatre.

Philip Dodd talks to Cullen Murphy about his new book, God's Jury. Matthew Sweet takes a new look at Lawrence Durrell. And Anne McElvoy talks to Kate Grenville about her books on Australian Colonialism and also interviews Gene Sharp about non-violent protests.

Matthew Sweet talks to David Scheffer, architect of the Modern War Crimes Tribunal and discusses the Hajj with film-maker Navid Ahktar and Venetia Porter curator at The British Museum. Also Anne McElvoy discusses the play, Trial of Ubu with theatre critic Susannah Clapp.

Matthew Sweet talks to philosopher Roger Scruton about environmental politics and also discusses the writer WG Sebald with cultural historian Kevin Jackson and the writer and translator Amanda Hopkinson. Susannah Clapp and film historian Ian Christie came into the studio to talk about Coriolanus - the first big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s political power play. And Anne McElvoy talks to Paul Mason about his book ‘Why It’s Kicking Off Everywhere’.

Throughout this week, Night Waves examines some of the major cultural forces shaping the 21st century. Anne McElvoy and guests discuss mega-cities, sustainability and the ethics of living together.

Throughout this week, Night Waves examines some of the major cultural forces shaping the 21st century. Anne McElvoy asks to what extent are science and medicine shaping our lives and what breakthroughs are shaping the future?

Throughout this week, Night Waves examines some of the major cultural forces shaping the 21st century. Philip Dodd and guests look at greed in its many forms, accompanied Peter Marinker reading Falstaff, Faustus and others.

Throughout this week, Night Waves examines some of the major cultural forces shaping the 21st century. Matthew Sweet and guests attempt to define the zeitgeist via the cultural artefacts and moments of 2011.

In a special edition of the podcast, we mark the passing of both Christopher Hitchens and Vaclav Havel, with interviews, reviews and analysis from the Night Waves archives.

Matthew Sweet entertains guests from Ghana, Italy, India and Egypt to discuss Saladin, a new book by Anne-Marie Eddé, the legacy of the Crusades, Nanni Moretti's latest film We have a Pope and Rabindranath Tagore, the first Asian recipient of the Nobel Prize.