In this episode of Irish Books, historian Professor Dianne Hall joins Chris Murray to discuss Emma Donoghue’s The Paris Express, a book that brings aspects of the thriller genre to literary fiction.

Set aboard a train on a single day in 1895, The Paris Express assembles a cast of real figures, but in an alternate history in which they are propelled towards disaster.  At the heart of the story is the tension between the young anarchist Mado Pelletier, who carries a bomb, and the only passenger who guesses her secret, the librarian and charity-worker Blonska.

Chris and Dianne explore Donoghue’s blend of historical research and imaginative reinvention, the novel’s queer aesthetic, and how the threat of impending destruction speaks to the sense of fragility in our own time. .

Dianne Hall is Professor of History at Victoria University, Melbourne. 

LINKS:
Irish Books Podcast on Blogspot: https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com
Buy "Paris Express" https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781035057276/

Follow the Irish Books Podcast channel on WhatsApp

Guest:
Dianne Hall https://researchers.vu.edu.au/2149-dianne-hall

 

The Irish Books Podcast is proudly produced by East Coast Studio with support from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Monash University

 

In this episode of&nbsp;Irish Books, historian Professor Dianne Hall joins Chris Murray to discuss Emma Donoghue&rsquo;s&nbsp;The Paris Express, a book that brings aspects of the thriller genre to literary fiction.
Set aboard a train on a single day in 1895, The Paris Express&nbsp;assembles a cast of real figures, but in an alternate history in which they are propelled towards disaster.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the heart of the story is the tension between the young anarchist Mado Pelletier, who carries a bomb, and the only passenger who guesses her secret, the librarian and charity-worker Blonska.
Chris and Dianne explore Donoghue&rsquo;s blend of historical research and imaginative reinvention, the novel&rsquo;s queer aesthetic, and how the threat of impending destruction speaks to the sense of fragility in our own time. .
Dianne Hall is Professor of History at Victoria University, Melbourne.&nbsp;
LINKS: Irish Books Podcast on Blogspot: <a href="https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com/">https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com</a> Buy "Paris Express" <a href="https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781035057276/">https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781035057276/</a>
<a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBq5wu4SpkCEVjepD42">Follow the Irish Books Podcast channel on WhatsApp</a>
Guest: Dianne Hall <a href="https://researchers.vu.edu.au/2149-dianne-hall">https://researchers.vu.edu.au/2149-dianne-hall</a>
&nbsp;
The Irish Books Podcast is proudly produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://eastcoaststudio.com.au">East Coast Studio</a> with support from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Monash University
&nbsp;

Each episode focuses on a single book to offer in-depth exploration of contemporary Irish writing, one of the the dominant presences in book shops, book groups, and writers’ festivals around the world. Guest experts on Irish culture join author and critic Chris Murray to explore the techniques, cultural resonances, and deeper meanings of the nation’s recent literature. Irish Books tackles prize winners and some of the biggest names in Irish writing today while also calling attention to emerging voices that deserve notice. Listeners will learn more about the books they loved and find out what they should read next.

Host @drchrismurray.bsky.social (Bluesky)

Read the blog at https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com

The Irish Books Podcast is produced by East Coast Studio with support from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Monash University

Each episode focuses on a single book to offer in-depth exploration of contemporary Irish writing, one of the the dominant presences in book shops, book groups, and writers&rsquo; festivals around the world. Guest experts on Irish culture join author and critic Chris Murray to explore the techniques, cultural resonances, and deeper meanings of the nation&rsquo;s recent literature. Irish Books tackles prize winners and some of the biggest names in Irish writing today while also calling attention to emerging voices that deserve notice. Listeners will learn more about the books they loved and find out what they should read next.
Host <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/drchrismurray.bsky.social">@drchrismurray.bsky.social </a>(Bluesky)
Read the blog at <a href="https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com">https://irishbookspodcast.blogspot.com</a>
The Irish Books Podcast is produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://eastcoaststudio.com.au/">East Coast Studio</a> with support from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Monash University