Meg Rosoff on Isabella Bird
Novelist Meg Rosoff chooses the pioneering Victorian travel writer, Isabella Bird. With Matthew Parris. From 2013.
At home in Edinburgh Isabella Bird was the very picture of the ailing Victorian spinster but the moment her tiny feet hit the gangway of a steamer or squeezed into the stirrups of a horse she was transformed. Taking a doctor's advice to travel for the sake of her health Isabella headed for Australia, Japan, Korea and Hawaii before finding her spiritual home amongst the most rotten scoundrels of America's West.
In 'Great Lives' the award-winning author of novels including 'How I Live Now' and 'The Bride's Farewell', Meg Rosoff explains why Isabella's transformation has inspired her books and her love of horses.
She's joined by David McClay from the National Library of Scotland who maintains an archive of Isabella's colourful correspondence from the farthest flung corners of the Earth.
First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in December 2013.
Last on
More episodes
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Matthew Parris |
| Interviewed Guest | Meg Rosoff |
| Producer | Alasdair Cross |
Broadcasts
Christmas Eve 2013 16:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4- Fri 27 Dec 2013 23:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
- Thu 14 Nov 2019 18:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 15 Nov 2019 00:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.
Podcast
-
![]()
Great Lives
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
