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Rumer Godden

Sue Lawley's castaway is writer Rumer Godden.

Always an outsider, she seems to have gone against all the mores of her time; from opening a dancing school in Calcutta to living alone with her children in Kashmir. On Desert Island Discs this week, the writer Rumer Godden describes how her rich life in India (under the Raj) and in Britain has influenced her novels.

She says she can't remember a time when she didn't write. Now in her late 80s, and after publishing more than 50 books, including Black Narcissus and The River, she's just added another to her list.

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

Favourite track: Kinderscenen Traumerei by Robert Schumann
Book: The Atlantic book of British and American Poetry by Edith Sitwell
Luxury: A widow's cruse filled with whisky

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 13 Nov 1998 09:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Dominic Muldowney

    Peacock Spring Music

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Robert Schumann

      Träumerei (from Scenes from Childhood)

      Soloist: Vladimir Horowitz

      • The Sound Of Horowitz.
      • CBS.

  • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra

    Stormy Weather

    • Stormy Weather.
    • Phontastic.

  • Ariel RamΓ­rez

    Misa Criolla

    Orchestra: Los Frontierizos Choir: The Choir Of The Bassilica

    • Misa Criolla And Misa Flamenca.
    • Philips.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie Fantastique

    Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra

    • Berloz: Symphonie Fantastique, Op 14.
    • CBS.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Porgi, amor (from The Marriage of Figaro)

    Soloist: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Orchestra: The Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus

    • Mozart - The Marriage Of Figaro.
    • EMI.

  • FrΓ©dΓ©ric Chopin

    Les Sylphides

    Orchestra: The Ballet Theatre Orchestra Conductor: Joseph Levine

    • Chopin Les Sylphides.
    • Capitol Records.

  • Franz Liszt

    BΓ©nΓ©diction de Dieu dans la solitude

    Soloist: Claudio Arrau

    • Claudio Arrau - Liszt.
    • Philips.

  • Book Choice

    • The Atlantic book of British and American Poetry - Edith Sitwell

  • Luxury Choice

    • A widow's cruse filled with whisky

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Rumer Godden

Broadcasts

  • Sun 13 Oct 1996 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 18 Oct 1996 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 13 Nov 1998 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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