Alexandra Wood on Hilary Mantel, Thatcher and political violence

Standard Issue Podcast

Standard Issue

Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 27 April 2026

⏱️ 23 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When back in 2014, the Guardian published Hilary Mantel’s short story The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, it sparked intense controversy. Critics called it a "distasteful fantasy" and "dangerous nonsense”, while others, our Mickey included, would argue that actually it’s a smart, creative exploration of a polarised political era from a literary heavyweight. It’s also now a play, with Mantel’s short story in the safe hands of playwright Alexandra Wood. As if that wasn’t enough for Mick to want to get Alex on the Zoom, it’s opening in Liverpool, famously a bastion of anti-Thatcher sentiment. They’re chatting the brilliance of Mantel, alternative pasts and futures, Maggie’s legacy and political violence. The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher opens at the Liverpool Everyman on Saturday 2 May and runs until May 23. Tickets and more info available from everymanplayhouse.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Isn't life grande?
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0:27.7	Subject to availability while stocks last.
0:30.4	Standard issue for all women.
0:33.0	Hello, hello and welcome to Monday's podcast.
0:36.4	It's Mickey introducing the standard issue content this week.
0:42.2	When back in 2014, The Guardian published Hilary Mantell's short story, The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, it sparked intense controversy, with critics calling it a distasteful fantasy and dangerous nonsense.
0:56.9	With the disclaimer that I am a huge Mantel fan and, well, not so much on Thatcher,
1:02.9	I'd say it is, in fact, a smart, creative exploration of a polarised political era.
1:09.3	Why would it be relevant now?
1:11.5	Anyway, I was excited to discover it is now a play
1:14.8	with Mantel's short story in the safe hands of playwright Alexandra Wood.
1:19.2	What's more, it is opening in Liverpool,
1:21.9	home of my foremothers and bastion of anti-Thatchez sentiment.
1:26.0	So it's going to be, let's call it, a lively one.
1:29.5	Alex and I are chatting the brilliance of Mantel, alternative past and futures, Maggie's legacy
1:34.6	and political violence. As ever, there's a bit more for our £5 and above Patreon,
1:39.8	who, among other things, can hear about one of my very many Facebook regrets. And of course,
	...

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