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Strains of Paradise

Samira Ahmed asks why the idea of paradise, a place of perfect happiness, has been so potent in history and how it survives today.

Samira Ahmed asks why the idea of Paradise, a place of perfect happiness, has been so potent in human history and how it survives in the modern world.

Medieval maps at the British Library actually show the places where paradise was thought to exist on earth, in many cases a walled space tantalizingly close to the known world. Samira talks to Peter Barber, Head of Maps at the Library, about early depictions of paradise and how they changed over the centuries.

She also explores how England has been viewed as a kind of paradise - from Shakespeare's 'scepter'd isle' to the dreams of desperate migrants trying to cross the Channel today.

Perhaps the most persuasive idea of paradise exists within elements of Islam, especially some Jihadist groups, for whom the idea of paradise has become an added impetus to violence and self-destruction. Samira talks to the Muslim theologian and Imam Usama Hasan about the place of paradise within core Islamic thinking and about how those ideas have become so dangerously perverted.

Samira also explores the idea of paradise as an ideal still pursued by the rich in their exclusive and often gated hideaways and exotic retreats.

Strains of Paradise is presented by Samira Ahmed, with readings and poetry that include Thomas Hardy and Emily Dickinson and music from the likes of Faure, John Taverner, Van Morrison, Harry McClintock and Delius.

A Whistledown production for 麻豆约拍 Radio 4.

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 30 Aug 2015 06:05
麻豆约拍 Radio 4

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Bread of Life

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  • Samira reflects on bitterweet visions of paradise.

Music Played

  • Vangelis

    Conquest of Paradise

    • 1492 Conquest of Paradise.
    • Atlantic.

  • Nico Muhly

    Long Phrases for the Wilton Diptych

  • Van Morrison

    A Town Called Paradise

    • No Guru No Method No Teacher.
    • Polydor.

  • Gabriel Faur茅

    Requiem in D Minor, Op48: VII. In Paradisum

    Choir: Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
    • Requiem & Messe Basse.
    • The Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge.

  • Harry 鈥淗aywire Mac鈥� McClintock

    The Big Rock Candy Mountain

    • Oh Brother, where art though?.
    • Mercury Nashville.

  • John Taverner

    Outside the Gates of Paradise

    Performer: Holst Singers.
    • The Veil of The Temple.
    • Signum Classics.

  • Frederick Delius

    The Walk to the Paradise Garden

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera.
    • Brigg Fair/North Country Sketches/ The Walk to the Paradise Garden/ In a Summer Garden Import.
    • Argo.

Readings

Title: 鈥楾丑别 Diario of Christopher Columbus's First Voyage to America, 1492鈥�1493 (American Exploration and Travel Series)鈥�

Author: 听Christopher Columbus

Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press


Title: 听鈥楻ichard II鈥� (The Complete Works of William Shakespeare)

础耻迟丑辞谤:听 William Shakespeare

Publisher: 听Clarendon Press

听

Title: Poem What is 鈥� 鈥淧aradise鈥�

Author: 听Emily Dickinson

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform


Title: 鈥楾丑别y Looked for Paradise and Found Hell鈥�

Author: Dounia Bouzar

Publisher: 听Editions de L鈥橝telier


Title: 听鈥�Haadi al-Arwaah ilaa il-Afraah鈥�

Author: Ibn al-Qayyim

Publisher: Unknown


Title: 听鈥楥an we find paradise on earth?鈥�

Author: Toni Morrison

Publisher: 听Hay Festival 2014 - As reported in The Telegraph, 27 May 2014


Title:听 Poem 鈥楾o Life鈥�

Author: Thomas Hardy

Publisher: Wordsworth Editions

Broadcast

  • Sun 30 Aug 2015 06:05
    麻豆约拍 Radio 4