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Review
What is so enjoyable about the collection is its capacity to surprise. --The Sunday Times
a must for any audio library --The Telegraph
utterly absorbing --The Times
a must for any audio library --The Telegraph
utterly absorbing --The Times
Product Description
This three CD compilation forms part of the British Library's series of documentary recordings by English-Language authors and playwrights. Around 30 writers are represented, talking about their lives and work. The recordings derive primarily from BBC broadcasts, the earliest of them dating from the 1930s, and include historic recordings of the first generation of writers whose voices survive through to senior figures of the present day. Among the writers included are Rudyard Kipling, Virginia Woolf, Ian Fleming and Harold Pinter. The majority of the recordings have not been published before. A three CD compilation devoted to American writers, containing never-released audio footage is in production and will accompany this set. Includes a 24 page booklet. Track listing DISC ONE 1. Arthur Conan Doyle [1859-1930] Conan Doyle Speaking 2. Arthur Machen [1863-1947] Points of View 3. Baroness Emmuska (Emma) Orczy [1865-1947] Talk on the original conception of the Scarlet Pimpernel 4. Rudyard Kipling [1865-1936] Speech at the luncheon of the Canadian Authors Association 5. Algernon Blackwood [1869-1951] Pistol against a Ghost 6. W. Somerset Maugham [1874-1965] An extract from his book 'A Writer's Notebook' 7. G K Chesterton [1874-1936] No. 6 in series of talks The Spice of Life 8. E M Forster [1879-1970] The Challenge of our Time 9. P G Wodehouse [1881-1975] The World of Books 10. Virginia Woolf [1882-1941] Craftsmanship DISC TWO 1. J R R Tolkien [1892-1973] The Fellowship of the Ring 2. Rebecca West [1892-1983] Discussion about modern literature and criticism 3. Aldous Huxley [1894-1963] Monitor 4. J B Priestley [1894 1984] The Look of the Week 5. Noel Coward [1899-1973] Today 6. Evelyn Waugh [1903-1966] Face to Face 7. Graham Greene [1904-1991] A Writer at Work 8. Nancy Mitford [1904-1973] The World of Nancy Mitford 9. C P Snow [1905-1980] People Today DISC THREE 1. Daphne du Maurier [1907-1989] Interview with Daphne du Maurier 2. Ian Fleming [1908-1964] Desert Island Discs 3. William Golding [1911-1993] William Golding: The author talks about his novels 4. Angus Wilson [1913-1991] Asian Club: The Writer and his Times 5. Anthony Burgess [1917-1993] PM Reports 6. Muriel Spark [1918-2006] Third Ear 7. Doris Lessing [born 1919] Life and Letters 8. Harold Pinter [born 1930] People Today 9. J G Ballard [born 1930] The Living Novelist 10. John le Carré [born 1931] An interview with John le Carré 11. Joe Orton [1933-1967] Regional Extra
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
This CD set collects audio recordings of British playwrights and novelists, dating from the "most important early commercial recording of a literary figure" (Arthur Conan Doyle) to Muriel Spark being interviewed on the radio in 1989. (In fact, most of the extracts are from BBC radio, and most are interviews.) The earlier recordings are necessarily shorter than the later ones, limited to about three minutes due to the recording technology of the time (a side or two of a shellac disc), while later ones are generally above the five minute mark. Tolkien gets the longest extract, at 11 minutes 44 seconds.
A full list of the authors included: Arthur Conan Doyle, Arthur Machen, Baroness Orczy, Rudyard Kipling, Algernon Blackwood,W Somerset Maugham, G K Chesterton, E M Forster, P G Wodehouse, Virginia Woolf, J R R Tolkien, Rebecca West, Aldous Huxley, J B Priestley, Noel Coward, Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, Nancy Mitford, C P Snow, Daphne du Maurier, Ian Fleming, William Golding, Angus Wilson, Anthony Burgess, Muriel Spark, Doris Lessing, Harold Pinter, J G Ballard, John Le Carré, and Joe Orton.
Generally, as they are interviews, the writers are talking about books and writing, though some are prepared talks (Machen on Dickens, Chesterton on The Spice of Life, Forster on The Challenge of Our Time, for instance). Only Algernon Blackwood is reading a full short story ("Pistol Against a Ghost"), though Baroness Orczy's contribution is a mix of drama and autobiography, as she recounts how she came to start writing, with the aid of an actor speaking for her famous character, the Scarlet Pimpernel. There is certainly a high degree of plumminess among the earlier writers, though things kick off with Conan Doyle's soft Scottish accent, and grow more demotic as we approach the latter half of the 20th Century. Tolkien's donnish ramble is perhaps the most difficult to understand, but you do get the sound effect of him lighting his pipe as compensation!
A full list of the authors included: Arthur Conan Doyle, Arthur Machen, Baroness Orczy, Rudyard Kipling, Algernon Blackwood,W Somerset Maugham, G K Chesterton, E M Forster, P G Wodehouse, Virginia Woolf, J R R Tolkien, Rebecca West, Aldous Huxley, J B Priestley, Noel Coward, Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, Nancy Mitford, C P Snow, Daphne du Maurier, Ian Fleming, William Golding, Angus Wilson, Anthony Burgess, Muriel Spark, Doris Lessing, Harold Pinter, J G Ballard, John Le Carré, and Joe Orton.
Generally, as they are interviews, the writers are talking about books and writing, though some are prepared talks (Machen on Dickens, Chesterton on The Spice of Life, Forster on The Challenge of Our Time, for instance). Only Algernon Blackwood is reading a full short story ("Pistol Against a Ghost"), though Baroness Orczy's contribution is a mix of drama and autobiography, as she recounts how she came to start writing, with the aid of an actor speaking for her famous character, the Scarlet Pimpernel. There is certainly a high degree of plumminess among the earlier writers, though things kick off with Conan Doyle's soft Scottish accent, and grow more demotic as we approach the latter half of the 20th Century. Tolkien's donnish ramble is perhaps the most difficult to understand, but you do get the sound effect of him lighting his pipe as compensation!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
The Spoken Word - a collection of authors
7 Jan 2009
For the benefit of those who'd like to order this, here's the lineup:
The Spoken Word: British Writers
Disc One
1. Arthur Conan Doyle
2. Arthur Machen
3. Baroness Emmuska (`Emma') Orczy
4. Rudyard Kipling
5. Algernon Blackwood
6. W Somerset Maugham
7. G K Chesterton
8. E M Forster
9. P G Wodehouse
10. Virginia Woolf
Disc Two
1. J R R Tolkien
2. Rebecca West
3. Aldous Huxley
4. J B Priestley
5. Noel Coward
6. Evelyn Waugh
7. Graham Greene
8. Nancy Mitford
9. C P Snow
Disc Three
1. Daphne du Maurier
2. Ian Fleming
3. William Golding
4. Angus Wilson
5. Anthony Burgess
6. Muriel Spark
7. Doris Lessing
8. Harold Pinter
9. J G Ballard
10. John le Carré
11. Joe Orton
The Spoken Word: British Writers
Disc One
1. Arthur Conan Doyle
2. Arthur Machen
3. Baroness Emmuska (`Emma') Orczy
4. Rudyard Kipling
5. Algernon Blackwood
6. W Somerset Maugham
7. G K Chesterton
8. E M Forster
9. P G Wodehouse
10. Virginia Woolf
Disc Two
1. J R R Tolkien
2. Rebecca West
3. Aldous Huxley
4. J B Priestley
5. Noel Coward
6. Evelyn Waugh
7. Graham Greene
8. Nancy Mitford
9. C P Snow
Disc Three
1. Daphne du Maurier
2. Ian Fleming
3. William Golding
4. Angus Wilson
5. Anthony Burgess
6. Muriel Spark
7. Doris Lessing
8. Harold Pinter
9. J G Ballard
10. John le Carré
11. Joe Orton
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Is This All They Have to Say?
3 Jan 2009
Would it have been too much trouble to list the authors included in THIS three-cd set since a six cd set was reviewed in today's Wall Street Journal? To buy this item is to risk having to face the choice of forgoing half the collection or duplicating it. See WSJ.com for the review to which I refer by Brian Carney. The Somerset Maugham track sounds irresistible.
And ignore my rating since Amazon will not permit me to post without declaring one. Sfacim!
Forgive me if this is less of a review and more of a warning to vigilance about what you would be buying with your attenuated bankroll.
And ignore my rating since Amazon will not permit me to post without declaring one. Sfacim!
Forgive me if this is less of a review and more of a warning to vigilance about what you would be buying with your attenuated bankroll.
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