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Words and Music Episodes

  1. Cops and Robbers

    David Jonsson with excerpts from George Eliot, Chester Himes, Joan Didion, Milton.

  2. A Seasonal Journey

    Olivia Williams and Owen Teale with Advent and Christmas traditions from around the UK

  3. Bears

    From Hunting for Honey Eaters to Presidents, Pooh and Petrushka - all things bear

  4. Milton's world

    Extracts from poems and prose set to music to mark the death of John Milton on 8 Nov 1674.

  5. Mountains

    Readings from Annie Proulx, Basho, HP Lovecraft with music by Bjork, Dvorak, Miriam Makeba

  6. The Circus

    Luke Treadaway & Phoebe Campbell conjure clowns, jugglers, elephants and trapeze artists.

  7. Rescue at Sea

    Carla Henry, Josh Bryant Jones & Martin McCann with readings and music evoking sea rescue.

  8. Feuds, Rivalries, Arguments and Quarrels

    Mozart and Salieri, literary spats between Romantic poets, family feuds, unhappy lovers.

  9. German Romanticism

    Emily Pithon and Nuhazet Diaz Cano with readings and music from the German Romantic era

  10. James Baldwin

    Adrian Lester reads from the novels and essays of James Baldwin, set alongside music.

  11. Gold, Silver, Bronze and Brass

    With Olympic medal ceremonies ahead, we explore precious metals in poetry, prose, music.

  12. The Party

    From the Great Gatsby, Mrs Beeton to Jeeves takes Charge, Romeo and Juliet to Harlem Samba

  13. Portraits of Suffolk

    As the Aldeburgh Festival marks 75 years, a playlist of readings and music from Suffolk.

  14. Prague and Kafka

    Colin Tierney and Jo Herbert with readings including Kafka, Holub, Else Lasker-Schueller.

  15. Birdsong

    Nightingales, robins, blackbirds in music, readings by Julia Winwood and Jonathan Keeble.

  16. Betjeman's World

    Bells, blossoms and railway branch lines in a John Betjeman-inspired playlist.

  17. Mills

    Our journey takes us from wind and water via the Miller's Song to dark, satanic mills.

  18. Byron

    Robert Glenister reads from poems, letters and diaries written by the Romantic writer

  19. Luck and Chance

    Anne Marie-Duff and Paterson Joseph evoke a world of card games, casinos and lucky chances

  20. The Curse of Narcissus

    From Ancient Greek vanities, via Dorian Gray & Jay Gatsby to Janet Fitch's White Oleander

  21. A Woman's Lot

    Greta Scacchi and Lydia Wilson with readings about women rebelling and questioning.

  22. Leadership

    Leaders, both good and bad, evoked in music, poetry and prose.

  23. Antarctica - from Shackleton to Happy Feet

    Readings and music inspired by Antarctica - the 'White Continent'.

  24. For love of Bagpuss

    Readings and music inspired by the anniversary of the children's TV programme Bagpuss

  25. Paying Attention

    Nathan Osgood and Sarah Slimani with readings ranging from Arthur Miller to Mary Oliver.

  26. Scents and Perfumes

    Tom Hollander and Anna Maxwell Martin with readings set alongside music inspired by scents

  27. The games that people play

    From chess to computer games via dominoes and dice.

  28. Merry Christmas

    Dominic West and Gemma Whelan with festive readings and music

  29. Maria Callas and the power of singing

    Clarke Peters and Anastasia Hille with prose and poetry about singing

  30. Celebrating Shakespeare

    Tracy-Ann Oberman and Reuben Joseph read great Shakespeare speeches set with music.

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