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Next February, Canongate will publish Nation of Strangers, the third instalment in a series by Turkish novelist, essayist and journalist Ece Temelkuran. Ahead of its publication we met to discuss the two books that precede it, ‘How To Lose A Country’ and ‘Together - A Manifesto Against A Heartless World.’ Both deal with what Ece has termed ‘cloud fascism’ - the gradual then sudden everywhereness and nowhereness of global autocracy.

Rooted in her own experience of the Erdogan regime’s corruption and unrelenting assault on human rights, both books detail the dark drift toward fascism and the determination and dignity needed in resistance. In this wide ranging conversation, the first of two interviews, we discuss the normalisation of shamelessness, the dangers of pseudo-understanding, the fight for institutions and the essential value of stories, something Ece describes as ‘natural penicillin for diseases of the soul. ‘

Ece Temelkuran is an award-winning Turkish novelist, political thinker and public speaker whose work has appeared in the Guardian, New York Times, Le Monde, La Stampa, El Pais, New Statesman and Der Spiegel. Her novels have been published in several languages and adapted for the stage.

‘One of the most acute and perceptive analysts of the furtive growth of fascism. Everyone should know about this.’

PHILIP PULLMAN

‘This is essential.’

MARGARET ATWOOD

‘Temelkuran is a brilliant writer, finding humour, hope and humanity in the darkest corners of our current malaise. Together lifted my heart and my spirits.’

BRIAN ENO

‘A potent mix of fierce urgency but unyielding calmness.’

THE IRISH TIMES

Music used on this episode is Room 2 by 36

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