A Good Read: Constance Briscoe, Angela Saini
Books and Authors
BBC
4.2 • 824 Ratings
🗓️ 26 June 2012
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Harriett Gilbert and her guests discuss their three book recommendations: Constance Briscoe, writer and part-time judge, champions "Knowledge of Angels" by Jill Paton-Walsh; science writer Angela Seini chooses "Foundation" by science fiction writer Isaac Asimov; and Harriett's own choice is the autobiography of the late novelist Muriel Spark.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, it's Nicola Cochlin. Young people have been making history for years, but we don't often hear about them. My brand new series on BBC Sounds sets out to put this right. In history's youngest heroes, I'll be revealing the fascinating stories of 12 young people who've played a major role in history and who've helped shape our world. Like Audrey Hepburn, Nelson Mandela, Louis Braille and Lady Jane Grey, |
| 0:24.7 | history's youngest heroes with me, Nicola Cochlin. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:30.3 | Thanks for downloading a good read on the Books and Authors podcast. Find more information |
| 0:35.7 | on our website at BBC.co.com.uk slash radio four. |
| 0:41.5 | Hello, welcome to a good read and with me today are the novelist, memoirist and judge, Constance Briscoe, and the science journalist and author Angela Sainey. |
| 0:51.1 | Angela's book, Geek Nation, how Indian science is taking over the world, is a journey through India to find out if the country is the world's next scientific superpower. |
| 1:00.9 | Published last year, it was the number one bestseller in India, and it's just come out in paperback. |
| 1:06.1 | Angela's award-winning journalism focuses on the impact of science on society. |
| 1:13.8 | This summer she's moving to the US for a year to take up a fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. |
| 1:17.2 | Angela, congratulations and welcome to the programme. |
| 1:19.7 | Thank you. I'm really glad to be here. |
| 1:21.7 | And welcome to you to Constance Briscoe. |
| 1:24.4 | Constance read law at Newcastle University then qualified as a barrister, |
| 1:28.4 | in which role she specialises in murder, serious crime, sex and firearm offences. |
| 1:34.0 | Since 1994, she's been a president of mental health tribunals, and in 96, she became one of the first black women to be appointed a recorder or part-time judge. |
| 1:44.1 | Constance's books include the memoirs, Ugly and Beyond Ugly, and... black women to be appointed a recorder or part-time judge. |
| 1:48.1 | Constance's books include the memoirs, Ugly and Beyond Ugly, |
| 1:51.6 | and a crime novel The Accused that she published last year. |
| 1:56.0 | Besides all that, five times a week, she does British military fitness exercises, |
| 1:58.5 | and I've just learnt, goes running as well. |
| 2:00.5 | Constance, super fit. |
| 2:02.9 | What's your choice of a good read? |
... |
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