Interview: Daniel Francis, On the Line with Joseph Planta (thecommentary.ca)

Daniel Francis

Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Author, historian, and Geist contributor Daniel Francis recently spoke to Joseph Planta about his book, Red Light Neon: A History of Vancouver's Sex Trade (Subway, 2007).

Red Light Neon: A History of Vancouver's Sex Trade by Daniel Francis. (Subway Books, 2006)

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Red Light Neon

You will need the Real Player to listen to the interviews. If you don't have it, you can download it at http://www.real.com.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Daniel Francis joins me now to talk about his recent book Red Light Neon: A History of Vancouver's Sex Trade. Published by Subway Books, and retailing for $22.00, the book is a history of the sex trade industry in Vancouver. How much hypocrisy is there surrounding prostitution in Vancouver? What have the police and politicians done? How is it impacting life in the city? We'll attempt to answer these questions and more, including discuss the Pickton Trial and how it makes for a sad chapter in the history of the sex trade in Vancouver, and the city itself. It's a fascinating book on a less than comfortable subject.

Daniel Francis is a popular historian who edited the remarkable Encyclopedia of British Columbia, and who has written some 22 other books including: L.D.: Mayor Louis Taylor and the Rise of Vancouver. He is a regular contributor to Geist. I am pleased to welcome Daniel Francis to the Planta: On the Line program; Good morning, Mr. Francis.