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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: Redmond O'Hanlon

09/03/1997

Redmond O'Hanlon

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Redmond O'Hanlon

Sue Lawley's castaway is explorer Redmond O'Hanlon

Sue Lawley's castaway is explorer Redmond O'Hanlon.

This week's castaway is an adventurer - the travel writer Redmond O'Hanlon. He's trekked to deserted mountain tops for a glimpse of the rare Borneo rhinoceros, paddled through river swamps to find the Congo's mythical monster, and, deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, he stayed with the most violent people on Earth, the Yanomari Indians.

Along the way, he's encountered scorpions, vipers and a giant catfish "which can take your foot off at the ankle", all in search of a story. As he tells Sue Lawley, although his long-suffering companions survive the journey, they vow never to travel with him again - not even to High Wycombe. He's planning a trip to New Guinea - so will Sue agree to accompany him?

Some aspects of this programme may upset some listeners.

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

Favourite track: Clarinet Quintet in A: 2nd Movement by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Luxury: A pair of green, insulated Leica binoculars 8 X 20

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

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