Great Lives

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Factual: Life Stories

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

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Great Lives: Malcolm Lowry, nominated by Ian McMillan

Malcolm Lowry, novelist, nominated by Ian McMillan

Malcolm Lowry, nominated by Ian McMillan

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Malcolm Lowry, nominated by Ian McMillan

As a young man looking for a literary hero, poet Ian McMillan found writer Malcolm Lowry

Poet Ian McMillan chooses the author of Under the Volcano, Malcolm Lowry. With Matthew Parris. From 2019.

Matthew Parris meets the poet Ian McMillan to find out about the life of his literary hero Malcolm Lowry. 

Ian first discovered this 20th century writer's work as a young sixth former searching for literary inspiration. He stumbled by chance upon the writer's most famous novel, Under the Volcano, and Lowry's lyrical lines have remained with Ian ever since. 

Joining Matthew and Ian to discuss the life of this Merseyside writer is the artistic director of Liverpool's Bluecoat Theatre, Bryan Biggs.  

Together, they discuss the biography of this complex and intense man, a life that was full of sea-voyaging, shack-dwelling and heavy drinking. 

Producer: Camellia Sinclair

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 April 2019.

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Malcolm Lowry, nominated by Ian McMillan

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