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Richard Mabey

Sue Lawley's castaway is naturalist Richard Mabey.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the naturalist and writer Richard Mabey. A romantic at heart, he regrets that so much written about nature these days concentrates on the scientific. Unlike past writers like WH Hudson or Gilbert White, he says we rarely confess our feelings and emotions about the countryside. What interests him is our relationship with nature; how we name our streets and houses after flowers, why children still whack conkers, and the reasons we bring holly and mistletoe into our homes at Christmas. He himself has a special relationship with the nightingale - he describes how, in times of distress and depression, he can always find comfort in its song.

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

Favourite track: La Delaissado (The Abandoned) by Joseph Canteloube
Book: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Luxury: Guitar

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 31 Oct 1997 09:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Choir of New College Oxford

    Adam lay i-bounden (from Ceremony of Carols)

    • Carols From New College.
    • CRD.

  • The Kinks

    Waterloo Sunset

    • To The Bone.
    • Konk.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Dances of the adolescent girls (from The Rite of Spring)

    Orchestra: Cleveland Orchestra Conductor: Pierre Boulez

    • Le Sacre Du Printemps.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Stephen Stills

    Season Of The Witch

    Artist: Al Kooper

    • Super Session.
    • CBS.

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Lark Ascending

    Soloist: Iona Brown Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields

    • Hi Fi Special. Quicksilver.
    • ASV.

  • Bob Dylan

    Visions Of Johanna

    • Blonde On Blonde.
    • CBS.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Joseph Canteloube

      La delaΓ―ssΓ΅do (from Songs of the Auvergne)

      Soloist: Natania Davrath

      • Songs Of The Auvergne.
      • Vanguard.

  • Planxty

    Smeceno Horo

    • After The Break.
    • Tara.

  • Book Choice

    • The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

  • Luxury Choice

    • Guitar

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Richard Mabey

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Oct 1997 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 31 Oct 1997 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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