Main content

Derek Walcott

Sue Lawley's castaway is playwright Derek Walcott.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is poet and playwright Derek Walcott. Recent winner of the WH Smith award, and described by his admirers as one of the greatest contemporary exponents of the English language, he'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his early life in St Lucia - a place he frequently returns to, when not at his post of Professor of Poetry at Boston University.

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

Favourite track: You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon
Book: Ulysses by James Joyce
Luxury: Carton of cigarettes

Download

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Sun 15 Nov 199212:15
BBC Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Marco Pierre White

Next

A S Byatt

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Les Sylphides

    Orchestra: The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Herbert von Karajan

    • Works By Offenbach, Chopin And Delibes.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Paul Simon

    Born At The Right Time

    • The Rhythm Of The Saints.
    • Warner Brothers.

  • Mighty Sparrow

    Ten To One Is Murder

    • An Artist Among USA.
    • RCA Classics.

  • Beniamino Gigli

    O Paradiso

    • Gigli Vol 1 1918-24.
    • Nimbus Records.

  • Bob Marley

    No Woman No Cry

    • Live at the Lyceum.
    • Island.

  • Shelley Plimpton

    Frank Mills (from Hair)

    • Hair - American Love-Rock Musical.
    • RCA Classics.

  • Bob Marley

    Redemption Song

    • Hot & Sweet.
    • Island.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Paul Simon

      You Can Call Me Al

      • Born At The Right Time.
      • Warner Brothers.

  • Book Choice

    • Ulysses - James Joyce

  • Luxury Choice

    • Carton of cigarettes

Credits

PresenterSue Lawley
Interviewed GuestDerek Walcott

Broadcasts

  • Sun 9 Jun 199112:15
    BBC Radio 4
  • Fri 14 Jun 199109:05
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 15 Nov 199212:15
    BBC 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

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Articles

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

Podcast