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David Almond

Kirsty Young talks to children's author David Almond, creator of the award-winning Skellig.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the writer David Almond.

Most of his work is for children but the adults who populate the juries of heavyweight literary prizes really like it too. The accolades began with his first novel Skellig published in 1998 when he was 47; it won the mighty "Whitbread Children's" award and then many others besides.

Ever since, he's been acclaimed for his ability to craft complex, philosophical narratives with strikingly down to earth characterisations.

He grew up just outside Newcastle in a big, Catholic family and his childhood features heavily in his stories.

He says "Each of my books has had to be written - there was something that had to come out."

Producer: Alison Hughes.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 15 Mar 2013 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Claudio Monteverdi

      Possente Spirito

      Performer: Anthony Rolfe Johnson and the English Baroque Soloists Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner

      • ³Άβ€™O°ω΄Ϊ±π΄Η.
      • ARCHIV.

  • Doris Day

    Black Hills of Dakota

    Performer: Doris Day

    • A Portrait of Doris Day.
    • STYLUS.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    O soave Fanciulla

    Performer: Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni and the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert von Karajan

    • Le Boheme.
    • DECCA.

  • Four Tops

    Reach Out I'll Be There

    • Four Tops: Reach Out.
    • TAMLA MOTOWN.

  • Samuel Barber

    Adagio for Strings

    Performer: New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein

    • Leonard Bernstein - The Royal Edition No. 39 of 100.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.

  • Tod Machover

    Skellig

    Performer: Matthew Long, Merrin Lazyan, Omar Ebrahim with the Northern Sinfonia and chorus conducted by Garry Walker (Recorded at the Sage in Gateshead November 2008)

    • Skellig Opera.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Variation 1

    Performer: Glenn Gould

    • Glenn Gould Goldberg Variations.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.

  • Natalie Merchant

    Which side Are You On?

    • The House Carpenter’s Daughter.
    • MYTH-AMERICA.

  • Book Choice

    • The Arabian Nights (1001 Nights)

  • Luxury Choice

    • Japanese notebooks and pens

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest David Almond

Broadcasts

  • Sun 10 Mar 2013 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 15 Mar 2013 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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