Main content

Ian Rankin

Sue Lawley's castaway is writer Ian Rankin.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the writer Ian Rankin. Ian Rankin is an award-winning writer of crime fiction and the creator of the Scottish detective John Rebus who has featured in 17 novels to date.

Born in Fife, Rankin came from a working-class background in a coal-mining town where he says he spent most of his childhood trying to "look like he fitted in". In his bedroom he would live out a fantasy life, writing poems, stories and creating strip-cartoons. He admits there are many parallels between himself and Rebus - they lived at the same Edinburgh address, both are fond of a drink and now they even share the same taste in music, though unlike Rebus, Rankin has never smoked. However all that is about to change; Rebus has reached the age of retirement in the police force and Rankin's next novel will be the last in the series.

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

Favourite track: Solid Air by John Martyn
Book: A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell
Luxury: Pinball machine (traditional American one)

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 21 Jul 2006 09:00
大象传媒 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Monty Don

Next

Dr Hanna Segal

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Dave & Ansel Collins

    Double Barrell

    • 25 Years of Rock and Roll: 1971.
    • Connoisseur Collection.

  • Mogwai

    Rage: Man

    • Mogwai: EP.
    • Chemikal Underground.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • John Martyn

      Solid Air

      • Solid Air.
      • Island.

  • Joy Division

    Atmosphere

    • Permanent.
    • London.

  • Van Morrison

    Snow in San Anselmo

    • Hard Nose The Highway.
    • Polydor.

  • The Rolling Stones

    You Can't Always Get What You Want

    • Let It Bleed.
    • London.

  • Belle and Sebastian

    The Boy with the Arab Strap

    • The Boy with the Arab Strap.
    • Jeepster.

  • Jackie Leven

    Linseed Oil

    • Jackie Leven Said.
    • Cooking Vinyl.

  • Book Choice

    • A Dance to the Music of Time - Anthony Powell

  • Luxury Choice

    • Pinball machine (traditional American one)

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Ian Rankin

Broadcasts

  • Sun 16 Jul 2006 11:15
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Fri 21 Jul 2006 09:00
    大象传媒 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast