Monica Ali

Hardtalk Extra caught up with Monica Ali at the Hay Literary Festival in Wales

In the second of Hardtalk Extra's special programmes from the Hay Literary Festival, broadcast on 7 July, Gavin Esler spoke to one of Britain's most exciting young novelists, Monica Ali.

Monica Ali became a household name on the strength of her debut novel, Brick Lane.

Told through the eyes of a young, impressionable Bangladeshi bride who arrives in London's East End, it tackled the most sensitive issues facing modern, multicultural Britain.

Monica Ali tells Gavin Esler how she drew on her parent's experience of immigration for the story.

A year after the terrorist attacks in London, she also talks about her concerns for young muslims in Britain, and her first hand experience of widening social divisions.

HARDtalk Extra can be seen on BBC World at 0330 GMT, 0830 GMT, 1530 GMT, 1830 GMT, 2330 GMT.

It can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 04:30 and 23:30.