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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: Brian Keenan

23/12/1990

Brian Keenan

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Brian Keenan

Sue Lawley's castaway is former hostage Brian Keenan

Sue Lawley's castaway is former hostage Brian Keenan.

Last August the world rejoiced at the liberation of a man who, to all intents and purposes, had vanished from its face more than four years previously. A pale and gaunt Brian Keenan emerged from a captivity of appalling deprivation and isolation after being kidnapped in Beirut by Islamic extremists.

This week on Desert Island Discs, he will be talking to Sue Lawley about those lost years, when, often blindfolded, chained and alone, he relived his life, conjuring up forgotten sights and sounds through imagined magical music, or by singing half-remembered lines from songs with John McCarthy when they were allowed to share their captivity.

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

Favourite track: Dweller On The Threshold by Van Morrison
Book: The Life Times and Music of An Irish Harper by Donal O'Sullivan
Luxury: Pencil

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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: Vermont, snowboarders, and Nancy Cruzan

Vermont, snowboarders, and Nancy Cruzan

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Vermont, snowboarders, and Nancy Cruzan

A discussion of the campaign for the right to die by the family of Nancy Cruzan.

From his holiday retreat in Vermont, Alistair Cooke muses on the benefits of getting away from it all, ponders the plight of the snowboarder and discusses the right to die. 

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Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Vermont, snowboarders, and Nancy Cruzan

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