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Felix Dennis

Kirsty Young's castaway is publisher Felix Dennis.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the publisher Felix Dennis. He blossomed among the flower power generation, finding fame as one of the defendants in the notorious Oz Magazine obscenity trial in 1971. It fired his loathing of the establishment but instead of dropping out he opted in and beat them at their own game. For the past 30 years his talent has been spotting a niche in the magazine market and launching a title to fill it - his success has made him one of the richest men in Britain.

For many years his life was one of addiction and excess - but latterly the only thing he feels compelled to do each day is write poetry and he's become one of a very rare breed - a best-selling poet.

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

Favourite track: One Too Many Mornings by Bob Dylan
Book: The Dictionary of National Biography
Luxury: A very long stainless steel shaft to encourage pole-dancing mermaids!

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 17 Aug 2007 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Andrew Davies

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Vladimir Jurowski

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Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Bob Dylan

      One Too Many Mornings

      • The Times They are A Changin'.
      • Columbia.

  • Robert Johnson

    Come Into My Kitchen

    • Robert Johnson: the Complete Recordings.
    • CBS.

  • John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton

    Have You Heard?

    • Blues Breakers-John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.
    • London.

  • Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie

    Bloomdido

    • Bird and Diz.
    • Verve.

  • John Lennon

    Mother (feat. Plastic Ono Band)

    Artist: The Plastic Ono Band

    • John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
    • Parlophone.

  • Peggy Lee

    You Came A Long Way from St Louis

    • Beauty and the Beast: Peggy Lee & George Shearing.
    • Capitol.

  • Chuck Berry

    Memphis, Tennessee

    • American Heartbeat.
    • Virgin.

  • Frank Sinatra

    Bim Bam Baby

    • Love is a Kick.
    • CBS.

  • Book Choice

    • The Dictionary of National Biography

  • Luxury Choice

    • A very long stainless steel shaft to encourage pole-dancing mermaids!

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Felix Dennis

Broadcasts

  • Sun 12 Aug 2007 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 17 Aug 2007 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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