Naomi Klein: Edward Said London Lecture, Royal Festival Hall

Edward Said is one of the greats of postcolonial theory, and Orientalism one of the discipline’s defining texts: an incisive analysis of the West’s misrepresentation of Eastern cultures. His influence is considerable and far-reaching, with speakers at previous memorial lectures including Noam Chomsky, Marina Warner and Rashid Khalidi.

This year, it’s Naomi Klein’s turn to speak. An acclaimed author and journalist, she’s spent much of her career critiquing the ills of modern capitalism. She arrived on the scene with No Logo, a now-canonical inquiry into corporate and branding culture, and since then has established herself as a continually insightful commentator on world affairs. Her most recent book This Changes Everything: Capitalism Versus the Environment saw her explore the troubling relation between environmental and economic systems.

On May 4, Klein speaks at the Royal Festival Hall at an annual event that explores Said’s continued relevance to today’s world.