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Anne Scott James

Sue Lawley's castaway is journalist and writer Anne Scott James.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the journalist and writer Anne Scott-James. Now in her 92nd year, Anne Scott-James came from a line of critics and writers and became one of the first women career journalists, editors and columnists, before embarking on a second career as the author of a series of gardening books.

After Oxford she joined Vogue - first as an assistant to a secretary and then went from writing the odd picture caption to proper articles. She became editor of Harper's Bazaar - and during her magazine career she commissioned work from such figures as Cecil Beaton, John Betjemen and Elizabeth David. Her marriage to Macdonald Hastings collapsed and in the early 60s she met the writer and illustrator Sir Osbert Lancaster and they married in 1967. At around the same time she embarked on a new stage in her career - gardening writing. Her first book, Down to Earth, and The Pleasure Garden, which she produced jointly with Sir Osbert, are now being republished as gardening classics.

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

Favourite track: Double Concerto for Two Violins in D by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: Semi-attached Couple by Emily Eden
Luxury: Nightdress made of pure white cotton

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 15 Oct 2004 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Johann Sebastian Bach

      Concerto for Two Violins in D minor

      Soloist: Christoph Poppen and Isabelle Faust

      • Violin Concertos.
      • Hannsler Classic.

  • Marlys Watters

    I Feel Pretty

    • West Side Story.
    • HMV.

  • Al Bowlly with Ray Noble & His Orchestra

    Goodnight Sweetheart

    • The Very Thought of You.
    • ASV.

  • Lotte Lenya

    Alabama Song

    • Mahagonny: Kurt Weill.
    • CBS.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Vissi d'arte (from Tosca)

    Soloist: Maria Callas Orchestra: The Orchestra of Scala Opera House

    • Tosca.
    • EMI.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major

    Soloist: Anne-Sophie Mutter & Bruno Giuranna

    • Sinfonia Concertante K.364.
    • EMI.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    C'Γ¨ Windsor una dama (from Falstaff)

    Soloist: Tito Gobbi & Rolando Panerai Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra Conductor: Herbert von Karajan

    • Falstaff.
    • EMI.

  • Vincenzo Bellini

    Il Fervido desiderio

    Artist: Calypso Kountouris - PRIVATE REC

  • Book Choice

    • Semi-attached Couple - Emily Eden

  • Luxury Choice

    • Nightdress made of pure white cotton

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Anne Scott James

Broadcasts

  • Sun 10 Oct 2004 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 15 Oct 2004 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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