Peter Carey

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the author Peter Carey. He says he grew up in his homeland "thinking that Australian history was dull and Australian literature was dull" and that he developed a strong passion to make it new and fresh. In this he has surely succeeded - he is one of only two novelists to have been awarded the Booker Prize twice.

Yet he came to writing relatively late. The son of a car salesman he started off studying science but he abandoned his university career and ended up, in his 20s, drifting into advertising. It was only then that his literary awakening began. "I announced with great confidence one day, 'I’m going to be a writer',' he says, 'I’m an obsessive fool, I was determined to do it!"

Choices

1.

Miles Davis

Round Midnight

Others who chose this artist

2.

Elvis Presley

That's All Right

Others who chose this artist

3.

Castaway's favourite

George Frideric Handel

Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah)

Choir: Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Orchestra: The Academy of Ancient Music Conductor: Christopher Hogwood

Others who chose this artist

4.

Bob Dylan

Thunder on the Mountain

Others who chose this artist

5.

Talking Heads

Life During Wartime

Others who chose this artist

6.

Bob Dylan

Idiot Wind

Others who chose this artist

7.

Tom Frampton

Of Cowboys, Pirates & Lawyers

Others who chose this artist

8.

Gavin Bryars

Jesus' Blood Never Failed me Yet

Others who chose this artist

Book

Austerlitz by W G Sebald

Others who chose this author

Luxury item

A ‘magic’ pudding and a drink

Others who chose a similar luxury