Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Writer of adventure stories, known for his own adventurous life.
On the island
Eight records
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 'Unfinished'
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini
I was taught and taught very well music at my preparatory school. And this brilliant master, Howell, who was killed in the First War. Got up a symphony orchestra in Swanwich. It was the first time I had ever heard a symphony, not unnaturally at the age of thirteen. And he played this, and has stayed in my mind ever since, as he himself has, and that is why I have chosen it.
The Old Castle (from Pictures at an Exhibition)
It's not particularly Spanish, but it does give the beauty of the instrument which I remember so well.
What Is This Thing Called Love?
They're very pleasant memories. So how about trying that marvellous fellow Cole Porter?
If I want a laugh, will accompany me o on my desert island, I think, which is typical of the time, and typical of the extraordinary innocence of Americans in the nineteen thirties.
Andor Kóréh and his Budapest Gypsy Orchestra
The journey I remember that I loved the most was travelling up the Pacific coast of South America. ... And out of that I think I can give you a tune that stays very much in my mind. I heard it certainly the first time in Hungary or Transylvania. and my wife, who is Hungarian. Also We enjoyed it together a great many times.
Pavane pour une infante défunte
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Pierre Monteux
When I married a Hungarian who, like all Hungarians, is passionately fond of music. I began gradually to get educated. and to listen to lots and lots of music. So I'll give you the sort of thing which I would not, I think, have appreciated earlier, though it's simple enough. Something that we both of us love
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67Favourite
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Herbert von Karajan
What would I like? To have, to make me dream, to fill up the days, to make me a human being and part of the world. Well, I have obviously chosen for that Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
Christos gennatai, doxasate (Christ is Born, Glorify Him)
Monks of the Greek Orthodox Church
I want to be called back on my desert island. To the beauty of nature and religion and everything there is. So I have chosen I am very fond of the chanting of the Greek Orthodox Church.
In conversation
Presenter asks
3:33What did you read at Oxford and what were your other interests there?
English literature. ... I am afraid none whatever. I've never had much interest in sport. Oh, politics I've gone my own way, which never seems to be anybody else's. And um other interests, I think one could say the chief interest beyond doing a little work was punting on the river with girls.
Presenter asks
4:14How did you get offered a job by the Ottoman Bank?
I was offered the job by the director of the Ottoman Bank because I was a very great friend of his son and had shot his partridges, and that was about all.
Presenter asks
4:52Were you working hard and interested in banking in Bucharest?
No, I don't think I was. I did my best. They put me in the correspondence department, and I used to write letters to London and other places. I didn't enjoy the bank very much, but I had a most marvellous time.
Presenter asks
The keepsakes
The book
Lyrics from the Elizabethan Songbooks and Lyrics from the Elizabethan Dramatists (bound as one)
A.H. Bullen (Editor)
they went with me right through the war, so I reckon I can stand them again on a desert island.
The luxury
Well, I should hope very much. but a coaster came by on the horizon. and its entire deck cargo of good claret was blown overboard and came ashore.
What was your secret mission in Romania during the war?
It was uh to d deprive the Germans of the Romanian oil wells. ... Oh, blow'em up, destroy'em, as was done in the first war, very successfully. Yes. But we were working, of course, together with the French. And the fall of France just wrecked the whole plan in various ways. We couldn't do it.
Presenter asks
20:08Was it difficult to get back to writing after the war?
No, it wasn't. I quickly got into it, but it was very difficult to get back again, because of course I was completely forgotten. I'd had two good novels out before the war, lots of short stories in England and America. And again, if it hadn't been for the generosity of the Americans in keeping me going and encouraging me, I should have found it very hard.
Presenter asks
24:09How do you respond to the criticism that women play very minor parts in your books?
Well, I don't think that's fair. For example, in my Big South American novel. ... Thing to love. The whole thing and all the disasters are engineered by women being quite unconsciously women all the way through. ... And my uh Last book. The last two weeks of Georges Rivac The heroine is just as important as the hero, if not more so. I grant I would perhaps like in a pure adventure story. To um reduce the role of a woman. But that's old fashioned to-day
“I really only got to [writing] when I was in Spain. There was so much roundabout that was the thing.”
“Normally I know how it's going to end, and I leave the middle to look after itself.”
“I never tried navigating by the stars, but if there wasn't anything else to navigate by, I suppose one could have a shot. At any rate, I know where the North is.”