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Episode details

World Service,29 Sep 2026,26 mins

Leïla Slimani takes on Tolstoy

In the Studio

Available for over a year

Prix Goncourt-winning writer Leïla Slimani this year completed a trilogy of novels; an era-spanning epic family saga set in Morocco, which concludes with the semi-autobiographical I'll Take The Fire. Never one to stay in her comfort zone and compelled to write, she has now embarked on her very first play. She discusses the challenges of adapting Leo Tolstoy’s moralising final novel Resurrection for stage, and the surprising connections with her previous, diverse, body of work. Ahead of the play's world premiere in Lorient next week, theatre director Simon Delétang also joins from his rehearsals with Comédie-Française to discuss collaborating with Slimani on the project. Presenter: Nikki Bedi Readers: Sumaiya Chaudhary and David Holt Producer: Ciaran Bermingham

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