Xiaolu Guo - Take Four Books

What this episode covers

This week, Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks to the British-Chinese writer Xiaolu Guo about her new novel - Call Me Ishmaelle - which reinterprets Herman Melville's mighty Moby Dick story and follows the protagonist of Ishmaelle, a woman who sneaks onto a whaling ship disguised as a man. For her three influencing texts Xiaolu chose: Moby Dick by Herman Melville from 1851; Philip Hoare's Leviathan from 2009; and Othello by William Shakespeare (first performed in 1604).The supporting contributor for this episode was the literary editor and founder of the independent publisher thi wurd - Alan McMunnigall. Producer: Dom Howell Editor: Gillian Wheelan This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Take Four Books?

This episode is 28 minutes long.

When was this Take Four Books episode published?

This episode was published on April 20, 2025.

What is this episode about?

This week, Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks to the British-Chinese writer Xiaolu Guo about her new novel - Call Me Ishmaelle - which reinterprets Herman Melville's mighty Moby Dick story and follows the protagonist of Ishmaelle, a...

Can I download this Take Four Books episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.