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ON NOW : Open Book
Author Louise Erdrich; plus the winner of the Independent Bookshop award

Open Book Mariella Frostrup talks to Louise Erdrich about her new novel The Round House.

Last Word

Image for Maeve Binchy, Gore Vidal, Ann Atkinson and Geoffrey Hughes

Listen now 28 mins

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Maeve Binchy, Gore Vidal, Ann Atkinson and Geoffrey Hughes

Duration:
28 minutes
First broadcast:
Friday 03 August 2012

Matthew Bannister on the Irish novelist Maeve Binchy, who sold forty million books around the world and didn't include sex scenes because she said she didn't have enough first hand experience

The wit, commentator and writer Gore Vidal, admired for his elegant prose and poise, but involved in many a public feud

The poet laureate of the Peak District Ann Atkinson - Barnsley's own Ian McMillan will be here with a tribute

And the actor Geoffrey Hughes, best known for playing lovable rogues like Eddie Yeats in Coronation Street, Twiggy in the Royle Family and Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances. Patricia Routledge - Hyacinth Bucket herself - shares her memories.

  • Maeve Binchy

    Last Word spoke to Maeve’s friend, the former Woman’s Hour producer Annie Howells; to Susan Lamb who is a publisher at Orion Fiction and to her friend and fellow Irish journalist Mary Kenny.

    Born 28 May 1940; died 30 July 2012 aged 72.

  • Gore Vidal

    Matthew spoke to his literary executor Jay Parini and to the writer and broadcaster Michael Goldfarb.

    Born 3 October 1925; died 31 July 2012 aged 86.

  • Ann Atkinson

    Ian McMillan pays tribute.

    Born 5 May 1947; died 30 April 2012 aged 64.

  • Geoffrey Hughes

    Matthew spoke to the actress Patricia Routledge, to Dorothy Hobson of the Contemporary Media Course at Wolverhampton University and to the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, General Martin White.

    Born 2 February 1944; died 27 July 2012 aged 68.

Broadcasts

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  1. Image for Last Word

    Last Word

    Radio 4’s obituary programme, marking the lives of significant figures who have died recently,...

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