The House of the Spirits and Tracey Emin's unmade bed episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 10, 2026 · 1H 1M

The House of the Spirits and Tracey Emin's unmade bed

from The History Hour · host BBC World Service

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. This programme contains distressing details.Our guest is Bárbara Fernández Melleda, Assistant Professor in Latin American Studies at the University of Hong Kong.We start with Chilean author Isabel Allende on her debut novel, The House of the Spirits, in 1982 which reflects Chile’s 20th century history.Then, we hear the memories of a soldier injured in the Battle of Gallipoli.The recollections of a mother who lost both her daughters in a crowd crush at Hillsborough stadium in 1989 - the UK's worst sporting disaster.How a British artist's unmade bed was nominated for a prestigious art prize in 1999.Next the swimsuit made ahead of the Beijing Olympic games in 2008 that was so good it had to be banned.Finally, we learn about the world's longest running animated TV series that began in 1969.Contributors:Isabel Allende - a Chilean author.Rupert Westmacott - a soldier (from archive).Jenni Hicks - a mother who lost her two daughters in the Hillsborough tragedy.Dame Tracey Emin - an artist.Jason Rance - former head of Speedo's global research and development team.Sunishi Yukimuro - an animated cartoon writer.(Image: Chilean author Isabel Allende. Credit: Felipe Amilibia/AFP via Getty Images)

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The House of the Spirits and Tracey Emin's unmade bed

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