Xiaolu Guo

Xiaolu Guo

Update: 2025-04-20
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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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Xiaolu Guo

Xiaolu Guo

BBC Radio 4