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A Sense of Failure

The writer Ian Sansom reflects upon the sense of failure that can accompany human endeavour.

The author Ian Sansom reflects on why it is that some of the most successful people are haunted by a sense of failure and considers his own experience as a writer - a profession that thrives on failure with literature 'emerging magnificently from error and untruths'.

With reference to the writings of Paul Auster, William James and Wallace Stevens, and music by Leos Janacek, William Shatner and Laura Marling,

Readers: Adjoa Andoh and Sam Peter Jackson
Produced by Alan Hall
A Falling Tree production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 9 Aug 2020 23:30
大象传媒 Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Charlie Rich

    Feel Like Going Home

    • Feel Like Going Home: The Essential Charlie Rich.
    • Legacy/Columbia.
    • 64762.
    • 18.

  • William Shatner

    It Hasn't Happened Yet

    • Has Been.
    • Shout! Factory.
    • 30349.
    • 2.

  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    On an Overgrown Path

    Performer: Andr谩s Schiff

    • A Recollection.
    • ECM Records GmbH.
    • 461 660-2.
    • 3.

  • Everything is Broken

    Bob Dylan

    • The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs - Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006.
    • Columbia.
    • 88697357972.
    • 9.

  • Good Man Gone

    The Waterboys

    • Fisherman鈥檚 Blues.
    • RCA.
    • 74321881522.
    • 5.

  • Laura Marling

    Failure

    • Alas I Cannot Swim.
    • Virgin Records.
    • 5099951688028.
    • 4.

  • Ivor Gurney

    Elizabethan Songs (5) for voice & piano: No. 4, Sleep

    Performer: Ian Bostridge

    • Bostridge: The English Songbook.
    • EMI.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 30 Sep 2012 06:05
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sun 30 Sep 2012 23:30
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sun 9 Aug 2020 06:05
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sun 9 Aug 2020 23:30
    大象传媒 Radio 4