There was a time when consolation blossomed from language, a time when there was still a network of words to hold pain and lull anguish. Today, however, that vocabulary has vanished in a society that believes consolation is for losers. In his work, In Search of Consolation, Michael Ignatieff embraces his political status along with his historian and philosopher sides, and reveals how great figures of the past found solace and regained hope after facing their most personal setbacks.
Michael Ignatieff, Caroline Michel and Miquel Molina discuss the different areas of life in which we search for identity and hope.
Michael Ignatieff is an essayist, academic and former politician. He was the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party and the official opposition from 2008 to 2011. Known for his work as a historian, Ignatieff has held academic positions at Cambridge University, Oxford University, Harvard University and the University of Toronto. He is rector and president of the Central European University in Viena, and was a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School. His books include Isaiah Berlin. A Life; The Warrior’s Honour: Ethnic War and the Modern Conscience, The Lesser Evil: Political Ethics in an Age of Terror, Fire and Ashes, and The Ordinary Virtues, published in Spain by Taurus.
Caroline Michel is an internationally renowned literary agent and a leading figure on the British cultural scene. Caroline Michel has been the CEO of PFD since 2007. Prior to that, she ran the William Morris Agency in London for three years. She has over 25 years' experience in the publishing industry and ran Vintage at Random House and Harper Press at HarperCollins. She is the chair of Hay Festival, BFI Trust chair and a former trustee of Somerset House. She is a Fellow of the RSA and Vice President of the London Library.
Miquel Molina is deputy director of La Vanguardia. He has worked at El Periódico and Segre. He was a correspondent for the Europa Press agency and a contributor to various economic publications. He has published the regular opinion column in La Vanguardia on culture and cities since 2002. He is the author of two novels and several essays, the latest being Cinco horas en Venecia (Five hours in Venice). In 2010 he received the prize for Non-sexist Communication awarded by the Association of Women Journalists of Catalonia.
