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Desert Island Discs

Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Desert Island Discs: Sir Stephen Spender

02/04/1989

Sir Stephen Spender

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Sir Stephen Spender

Sue Lawley's castaway is poet Sir Stephen Spender

Sue Lawley's castaway is poet Sir Stephen Spender.

In this week's Desert Island Discs, one of the most eminent English poets of this century, Sir Stephen Spender, talks to Sue Lawley about his radical and often flamboyant past, and his friendships with such notable literary figures as Christopher Isherwood, WH Auden and Virginia Woolfe.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] 

Favourite track: String Quartet in A Minor by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust
Luxury: Painting or sculpture & photograph of daughter

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: James Munroe's declaration of independence

James Munroe's declaration of independence

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, James Munroe's declaration of independence

President James Munroe's battle to keep America out of the hands of European invaders.

The journalism of James "Scottie" Reston, and President Munroe's declaration that America should not be considered as a future target for colonisation by European nations.

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