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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: Richard Hoggart

15/10/1995

Richard Hoggart

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Richard Hoggart

Sue Lawley's castaway is academic and writer Richard Hoggart

Sue Lawley's castaway is academic and writer Richard Hoggart.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the academic and author Richard Hoggart. Nearly 40 years ago, he wrote the hugely influential Uses of Literacy. In it, he argued that the working classes were being short changed - both by rampant consumerism and by the dross he felt was being churned out by the mass media.

Cast well away from materialism and the media on the desert island, he'll be talking about how he now feels about his original thesis and about his own working-class background in Leeds, where he was orphaned at an early age.

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

Favourite track: Fidelio: The Prisoner's Chorus From Act One by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: Essays by Michel de Montaigne
Luxury: Fountain pen and paper

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: New York taxi drivers

New York taxi drivers

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, New York taxi drivers

The importance of big business to President Clinton's re-election campaign.

How the demographics of New York taxi drivers change and how President Clinton's relationship with business may be key in the race for re-election, explored by Alistair Cooke. 

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