Posted on September 29, 2018 at 8:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Kate Atkinson returns to World War II for her latest novel, but in spite of her established track record, the public seemingly can’t help but read into her choice of setting.

Transcription is based on fact: The British secret service truly did plant agents around the country to keep an eye on fascist sympathizers during the 1940s.

Atkinson’s character, Juliet Armstrong, is one of those spies — a fact that comes back to affect her a decade later, during peacetime.

In an interview about the book on Weekend Edition, Atkinson acknowledged that one can certainly see a parallel between Transcription’s era and current political drama.

She says, though, that the idea came to her before Brexit and Donald Trump’s surprise election, and that perceived similarities come from the fact that “it's just history repeating itself.”

You can listen to her interview below or head to NPR’s website for an edited transcript.

Categories: Author Interview

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