Episode Details

The 1983 revolution in Grenada was a major moment of the Cold War era ... and writer Zilla Jones grew up hearing stories about its connection to her own family. She transports readers back to that time in her debut novel, The World So Wide. It follows a Canadian opera singer named Felicity who is caught up in the military coup and placed under house arrest. What unfolds next is a saga that spans decades and reflects on race, love, belonging and revolution. Zilla joins Mattea Roach to talk about why opera is at the centre of the story, her work as a lawyer and the power of art as protest.

If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:

• Nnedi Okorafor: Bringing a writer to life in Death of the Author 
• Jack Wang: Reimagining the lost stories of Chinese Canadians during WWII