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Episode details

Radio 6 Music,01 Feb 2026,180 mins

John and Paul and a near Mutiny

Cerys Matthews

Available for 4 days

Cerys chats to Ian Leslie about his new Beatles book 'John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs' and Tilar J. Mazzeo about her new book 'To the Edge of the World', the true story of a pioneering young woman at sea in the 1800s who bravely faces down a mutiny attempt. Ian Leslie is a British journalist, author and broadcaster who writes about psychology, creativity and culture; born in Cambridge. 'John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs', is a dual biography of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The book tells the story of their relationship before, during and after The Beatles, placing their bond at the centre of the band’s creative life. Tilar J. Mazzeo is a New York Times–bestselling author, cultural historian and former professor of English. 'To the Edge of the World', tells the true story of Mary Ann Patten, a nineteen‑year‑old captain’s wife who was forced to take command of a clipper ship in 1856 when her husband fell gravely ill mid‑voyage. Facing a mutinous crew, violent storms and extreme isolation, Mary Ann Patten becomes both the first woman to command a merchant vessel on this route and one of the earliest women to navigate the Southern Ocean, while pregnant. Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music

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