大象传媒

In the near future, Paul Farley finds that he is the last person on the planet - everyone else has disappeared without any explanation.

At first bewildered, in order to mark time and help him keep his wits sharp, he sets about creating an audio journal, centred on an exploration of the various novels, poems and films that feature a last man (and it is almost always a man) character.

These stem back to the Romantics, and include Byron's poem Darkness and Mary Shelley's overlooked gem The Last Man, which raises some of the key questions that arise not just in later narratives but also in Paul's own experience - what happens to time when you're the last person standing, should you live in the town or the countryside, is it possible to really be happy or simply enjoy a view, a meal or a song when there's nobody left to enjoy them with?

With thanks to Fiona Corston and Simon Bainbridge

Produced by Geoff Bird
Executive Producer - Eloise Whitmore
A Naked production for 大象传媒 Radio 4