British Library Podcasts

Can the world's pre-eminent language for communication, business, science and popular culture expect a more diverse and multilingual future? The panel is introduced by Roger Walshe. Accompanies the Evolving English exhibition. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 6 December 2010.

Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished letters and journals, Amanda Foreman, author of A World on Fire, gives a fresh account of the Civil War through the extraordinary stories of many of the thousands of Britons who went to America as soldiers, observers, nurses, adventurers, guerrillas and spies. Sponsored by the Eccles Centre for American Studies. Recorded in the Conference Centre on 11 April 2011.

Professor Philip Bobbitt, distinguished academic and author, who has both served the White House in senior government positions and lived there, with his uncle President Lyndon Baines Johnson, reflected on global security and on the special relationship between the US and the UK. Sponsored by the Eccles Centre for American Studies. Recorded in the Conference Centre on 29 March 2011.

Deborah Moggach chairs a discussion with authors Philip Hensher, Hilary Spurling and Michael Frayn, to celebrate the launch of The Writing Life: Authors Speak two-CD publication. The writers, all interviewed for the ongoing oral history project Authors' Lives, discuss their writing processes, offer insights into their own creative practices and reflect on being interviewed for Authors' Lives. Recorded in the Conference Centre on 28 March 2011.

Simon Gikandi explores the effect that the spread of the English language through colonisation has had on the lives of African people. Accompanies the Evolving English exhibition. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 28 February 2011.

Curator Jonnie Robinson presents recordings that explore the ever-changing regional contrasts of the English Language. With discussion from a panel of experts. Accompanies the Evolving English exhibition. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 23 February 2011.

What do Winston Churchill, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Charlton Heston and Melvyn Bragg have in common? They all said that no book has had greater influence on the English language than the King James Bible. Professor David Crystal asks 'is it true?' Introduced by Adrian Edwards. Accompanies the Evolving English exhibition. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 22 February 2011.

A packed auditorium joined poet Don Paterson, Ben Crystal, Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen for an evening of appreciation and exploration of Shakespeare's Sonnets. Introduced by Roger Walshe. Accompanies the Evolving English exhibition. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 2 February 2011.

The audience was invited to bring their favourite phrase, query or gripe for answers and discussion from our panel of language experts. With Victoria Coren and Peter Gilliver. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 5 December 2010.

A panel comprising C.P. Lee, Barry Cryer, Lucy Greeves, Tim Vine and Richard Wiseman discusses the mechanics of comedy at the British Library conference 'What's So Funny? The Languages of Laughter'. Accompanies the Evolving English exhibition. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 18 January 2011.

Steven Pinker discusses the interplay of language and the mind and how psychological processes have shaped the English language. Introduced by Jonnie Robinson. Accompanies the Evolving English exhibition. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 10 January 2011.

Evolving English shows very clearly that there is no single story of the English language. David Crystal explores aspects of its evolution. Introduced by Roger Walshe. Accompanies the British Library's Evolving English exhibition. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 29 November 2010.

American Poet and actor Saul Williams, a legendary voice of hip hop, talks with two of the sharpest UK artists, Akala and Lowkey, about how words impact at street level. Warning: adult content. Occasional very strong language. Recorded in the British Library Conference Centre on 26 November 2010.

Commentators have been arguing about the role of social class in determining life chances for many years. The concept of 'class' seems to have become increasingly complex, while at the same time we continue to see significant differentials in life chances within the UK. This event looked at where we are now in terms of class difference and social mobility in the UK. The debate was chaired by David Walker. The speakers were: Professor Fiona Devine, Professor John Hills and Lee Elliot Major. Recorded in the Conference Centre on 1 November 2010.

Frequently characterised as ‘racial riots’, the uprisings of the 1980s in Bristol, Brixton, Toxteth and Moss Side were significant reactions to the politics of late 20th-century Britain. This discussion brought together key witnesses to reflect on the context and legacy of these events. The speakers were: Dr Gail Lewis, Linda Bellos OBE, Wally Brown CBE, Kunle Olulode, Prof. Louis Kushnick OBE, Dr Anandi Ramamurthy and Sean Creighton. Recorded in the Conference Centre on 25 October 2010.