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Desert Island Discs
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MISSED A PROGRAMME?
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This Week's Guest:
Alexander McCall Smith
Sunday 19 June
Repeated
Friday 24 June |
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Alexander's Choice |
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Photo by Graham Clark
Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the author Alexander McCall Smith.
Alexander McCall Smith was an established professor of law, an expert on ethics and a part time musician when, at the age of fifty, he wrote the book that turned his life on its head. The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency became a word of mouth best-seller. He has now written a series of books featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe, a 'traditionally built' Botswanan woman who spends as much time dealing with the trials of everyday life as solving crime. Her cases have included absent husbands, imposter fathers and missing children - all resolved using common sense and underpinned with a strong sense of the importance of traditional African social values.
Alexander McCall Smith's fascination with, and devotion to, Africa is not surprising - he was born and brought up in Zimbabwe - then Southern Rhodesia - only moving to Britain when he began his legal studies and visits to Botswana every year. Even as a child he was a keen writer, and he was a published author for many years before he devised his most celebrated creation. His books are now printed in more than thirty languages and in 2004 he was named the Booksellers' Association Author of the Year. |
1. Soave sia il Vento
Performer Kiri te Kanawa, Ann Murray and Ferruccio Furlanetto with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by James Levine
Composer Mozart
Publisher Deutsche Grammophon
CD Title Cosi Fan Tutte
Track 5
Label DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON
Rec No: 4276802
2. Mah Lindy Lou
Performer Paul Robeson
Composer Strickland
Publisher ASV
CD Title 25 Sweethearts of Yesteryear
Track 11
Label ASV
Rec No:CDAJA5243
3. My Jo
Performer Helen McArthur
Composer Robert Burns
Publisher Lismor Recordings
CD Title Robert Burns Collection: The Songs
Track 9
Label LISMOR
Rec No: LCOM6040
4. Greater Love hath No Man
Performer Nicholas Price and Charles Gibbs with the choir of St Paul's Cathedral with Andrew Lucas on the organ and conducted by John Scott
Composer John Ireland
Publisher Hyperion Records
CD Title The English Anthem - Vol 1
Track 9
Label Hyperion
Rec No: CDA 66374
5. As time Goes By
Performer Dooley Wilson, Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman
Composer Al Jolson, Vincent Rose & B.G. DeSylva
Publisher Turner Entertainment
CD Title Soundtrack to Casablanca
Track 6
Label Premier Soundtracks
Rec No: 8235022
6. Part of the Sanctus of Faurés Requiem
Performer Elisabeth Brasseur with the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
Composer Fauré
Publisher EMI
CD Title Faurés Requiem
Track 6
Label EMI
Rec No: 7243 5 66894 8
7. On the Circuit
Performer W H Auden
Composer W H Auden
Publisher Argo
CD Title Poetry International '69
Track Side 1, trk 2
Label Argo
Rec No: MPR 262
8. West Coast of Clare
Performer Planxty
Composer Irvine
Publisher Polydor
CD Title Planxty
Track Side 1 trk 8
Label Polydor
Rec No: 2383 186
Record: Soave sia il vento
Book: A collection of W H Auden's works.
Luxury: A handmade pair of shoes
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