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Pat Barker

Sue Lawley's castaway is novelist Pat Barker.

This week Sue Lawley's castaway is the Booker prize-winning novelist Pat Barker. Pat Barker was 39 when she had the phone call every writer dreams about - her first book, Union Street, was to be published. The book went on to be made into a film, Stanley and Iris, with Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep. Initially she wrote about the hard lives of working-class, Northern women, and the compromises some made in order to survive. But she became a household name for her Regeneration trilogy about World War I and its aftermath - the final book in the series, The Ghost Road, won the 1995 Booker prize.

In Desert Island Discs she discusses her writing, her inspiration, the importance of her grandparents in her upbringing and what it was like growing up as a 'mistake' - a war-time baby born to her unmarried mother.

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

Favourite track: Dawn (The First of Sea Interludes) by Benjamin Britten
Book: Book on tropical fish to identify them
Luxury: Snorkelling equipment

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 12 Dec 2003 09:00
±«Óãtv Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Kathleen Ferrier

    I Know Where I Am Going

    • Blow The Wind Southerly.
    • Decca.

  • Judy Garland

    Over The Rainbow

    • The Wizard of Oz - The Original Cast.
    • CBS.

  • High Level Ranters

    Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny

    • The High Level Ranters present The Very Best of Tyneside Songs.
    • Leader Sound.

  • Bob Dylan

    Blowin' In The Wind

    • Greatest Hits.
    • CBS.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Benjamin Britten

      Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes - Dawn

      Artist: City of London Sinfonia Conductor: R Hickox

      • Peter Grimes.
      • Chandos.

  • Edward Elgar

    The Dream of Gerontius - Proficiscere, anima Christiana

    Artist: John Shirley Quirk Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra

    • The Dream of Gerontius Part 1.
    • London.

  • Theatre Workshop

    Gassed Last Night

    • Oh What a Lovely War - Original London Cast.
    • That's Entertainment.

  • Aaron Copland

    Simple gifts (from Old American Songs,Set 1)

    Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

    • Copland - the Populist.
    • RCA Red Seal.

  • Book Choice

    • Book on tropical fish to identify them

  • Luxury Choice

    • Snorkelling equipment

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Pat Barker

Broadcasts

  • Sun 7 Dec 2003 11:15
    ±«Óãtv Radio 4
  • Fri 12 Dec 2003 09:00
    ±«Óãtv Radio 4

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