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John Yorke looks at Albert Camus’ classic, The Plague. Published in 1947 it’s often thought to be an allegory for the Nazi occupation of Paris where Camus was living during the war. But the huge rise in its popularity during the pandemic speaks to the book’s enduring appeal. A seemingly simple narrative is actually a complex and layered exploration of how man responds to tragedy and finds meaning in an essentially meaningless world. Professor Andrew Hussey and Dr Raj Persaud contribute their thoughts on how the book inspires them professionally and personally.

John Yorke has worked in television and radio for 30 years and shares his experience as he unpacks the themes and impact of the books, plays and stories that are being dramatised in Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 4’s Sunday Drama series. As former Head of Channel Four Drama and Controller of Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Drama Production he has worked on some of the most popular shows in Britain - from EastEnders to The Archers, Life on Mars to Shameless.  As creator of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Writers Academy, he's trained a generation of screenwriters - now with over 70 green lights and thousands of hours of television to their names.  He is the author of Into the Woods, the bestselling book on narrative, and he writes, teaches and consults on all forms of narrative - including many podcasts for R4.

Contributors:
Andrew Hussey OBE, Writer and Professor of Cultural History, University of London
Dr Raj Persaud, Consultant Psychiatrist, author and broadcaster

Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith
Executive Producer: Sara Davies
Reader: Matthew Gravelle
Sound: Sean Kerwin
Production Hub Coordinator: Nina Semple

A Pier production for Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 4