Free Thinking: American Power? Suzan-Lori Parks. Gary Younge. Abstract Expressionism.

Pulitzer prize winning American dramatist Suzan-Lori Parks talks to Philip Dodd about putting on stage the story of a slave fighting against those seeking to abolish slavery. Journalist Gary Younge discusses American violence, gun culture and the Black Lives Matter movement. Plus Abstract Expressionism at the Royal Academy - how does this art which was used by the CIA to promote American power look today ?

Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) by Suzan-Lori Parks is at the Royal Court Theatre in London 15 Sep - 22 Oct

Abstract Expressionism is on show at the Royal Academy of Arts in London from September 24th to January 2nd.

Gary Younge's book is called Another Day In The Death of America

Frances Stonor Saunders is the author of Who Paid the Piper?: CIA and the Cultural Cold War

William Boyd is the author of many novels including one which presents a fictional biography Nat Tate: An American Artist 1928–1960