Neil O’Sullivan, the deputy editor of the Life & Arts review section of the Financial Times joins Joseph Planta to discuss the Lunch with the FT: 52 Classic Interviews (Portfolio, 2013), a new collection of some of the memorable lunches had notable world figures and celebrities for the paper’s popular ‘Lunch with’ feature.

Lunch with the FT: 52 Classic Interviews edited by Lionel Barber (Portfolio, 2013). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Lunch with the FT: 52 Classic Interviews

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The Financial Times celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, and a wonderful new book celebrates a feature of the paper that’s one of its most popular. In Lunch with the FT: 52 Classic Interviews, edited by Lionel Barber, we’re treated to a meal with some of the world’s remarkable figures. The feature, which has been in the paper weekly since 1994, has a reporter or editor from the Financial Times, taking to lunch either a celebrity, power broker, or politician. What you get is a conversation that provides insight into the person being dined out on the FT’s tab, as well as a peek into who they are, or whatever is pertinent in the world at the time. You have an eclectic mix of diners in this collection, from Jimmy Carter to George Soros, Prince Alwaleed to F.W. de Klerk. There are thinkers like Paul Krugman and Martin Amis, to world figures like Angela Merkel and Donald Rumsfeld. There are celebrities too like P. Diddy and Angelina Jolie. Joining me now is Neil O’Sullivan. He is the deputy editor of the Life and Arts review section of the Financial Times. He played a part in the putting together of this book. I’ll ask him about the book, this feature, and what’s illuminated at lunch. The book is published by Portfolio, which is an imprint of Penguin. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in London, Neil O’Sullivan; Mr. O’Sullivan, good morning.

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