Arts & Ideas

Matthew Sweet talks to acclaimed literary critic James Wood, visits an exhibition on Pompeii & Herculeneum and discusses the legacy of documentary maker Michael Grigsby. Plus the latest film by Francois Ozon, In the House, is reviewed.

As Zimbabwe votes in favour of a new constitution, Anne McElvoy is joined by Albie Sachs, journalist Simon Jenkins human rights lawyer Chibli Mallat to examine whether national constitutions aid or impede democracy. In light of this week’s cross-party deal on press regulation established by Royal Charter, Private Eye editor Ian Hislop and media expert James Curran offer contesting views on the State’s relationship with the press. Susannah Clapp delivers a first night review of The Book of Mormon, the new musical from the creators of South Park. And Simon Morrison discusses Lina Prokofiev, the wife of the composer Sergei, who is the subject of his new biography.

Rana Mitter hosts a special edition of Night Waves as part of Radio 3’s Baroque Spring season, including a visit to Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland. Joined by artists and designers, Rana explores the legacy of baroque and its influence today.

Philosopher and linguist Noam Chomsky joins Philip Dodd for an extended conversation on American individualism, the role of reason, and a life spent holding authority to account. And Philip meet the Master of Wellington College, Anthony Seldon, to get a very different perspective on how power operates in society.

Matthew Sweet talks to the Spanish novelist Javier Marias about his new book 'The Infatuations'. Night Waves takes stock of the man who sold the world as a new exhibition 'David Bowie is....' gets set to open at the Victoria and Albert Museum. And In another new book 'The Undivided Past' David Cannadine is looking beyond the supposed clash of religions, classes and civilisations and asks does a "History Beyond Our Differences" lead to confusion in the absence of polarised views?

Anne McElvoy talks to Aleksandar Hemon, the Bosnian-born writer who some have been comparing to Nabokov and Conrad, about his newest book which is his first venture into non-fiction. Jonathan Jones reviews the new show of work by the British Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare's. Emma Griffin, Jane Humphries and Judith Hawley discuss a challenging new history of the Industrial Revolution. And Alice Rawsthorn explains why she believes good design and a good life should always go together.

Ken Loach talks to Philip Dodd about his new documentary Spirit of '45, which celebrates the hopes of democratic socialism in post-war Britain. As the first UK retrospective of works by George Bellows opens, Night Waves sends the American poet Eva Salzman to take a look. Geoff Mulgan lays out his vision for a new breed of capitalism when he discusses his book The Locust and the Bee. And Keith Laws, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology discusses with Rupert Read, a philosopher of science whether psychologists should do more to act like scientists.

What does a nineteenth century Swedish play have to say about post-apartheid South Africa? Samira Ahmed talks to director Yael Farber about her re-working of Strindberg's Miss Julie. Why are we compelled to explore our physical and physiological limits and how may that benefit us - doctor of medicine Kevin Fong, and philosopher Andy Martin discuss. Also poet John Agard talks about being awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. And Samira talks to the Mexican film maker, Carlos Reygadas who won the best director award at Cannes last year.

Matthew Sweet talks to Booker-nominated novelist Julia O’Faolain about her new memoir and growing up with her father, a celebrated writer and a radical dissident. Helen Wallace reviews George Benjamin’s and Martin Crimp’s new opera, ‘Written on Skin’. Professor Nora Crook explains how she discovered who really censored Shelley’s notorious poem, ‘The Revolt of Islam’. Marcus Chown reviews The Challenger, a new docu-drama about the investigation into the 1986 space shuttle disaster. And we debate whether the use of words like ‘unacceptable’ and ‘inappropriate’ are part of a tendency to avoid casting strong moral judgements.

Anne McElvoy meets Hilary Mantel, the winner of the David Cohen Prize for literature. Mantel also defends her comments about the Duchess of Cambridge. The writer and former priest Mark Vernon discusses his latest book on love with the philosopher and economist Jamie Whyte, and the novelist and academic Eva Hoffman. The artistic team that created War Horse re-unite for Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream which opens this week at the Bristol Old Vic. Anne McElvoy discusses the new production with co-director Tom Morris. Revolutionary Iran - a new book explores the unique history of the Islamic republic. Anne McElvoy speaks to Michael Axworthy, one of the world's principle experts on the country.