Christopher Harding

The Light of Asia
In conversation with Adam Rutherford

Starts at: Saturday 26 October 12:15 PM
Finishes at: Saturday 26 October 1:15 PM

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The lands on the other side of the world have always held enormous fascination: tales of strange beasts and monsters combined with extraordinary reports of huge wealth and power led to a fear of the unknown that stretched right back to the time of the ancient Greeks. The West’s relationship with Asia remains a complex one, explored and explained in an entertaining and varied way by Christopher Harding.

By the 20th century, Harding reveals, much of Asia could well have come under Western rule following centuries of warfare. Instead the intellectual, artistic and spiritual influence of the East fought back. China, India and Japan were all acknowledged to be great civilisations and the stories behind many of the encounters between East and West, which gave rise to the confused relationship between the two sides of the globe, make fascinating reading.

The misunderstandings as well as genuine connections in this story of inspiration open up a whole new perspective on the world today.

For Christopher Harding's official website click here.