Bertrand Russell from the archives R4 29/10/11

[aeolium]

Although this is an alert for a programme on R4 tonight at 8 pm, I include it in the R3 Arts thread as I think a lot of the archive material will have been taken from the Third (I heard some of his talks which were repeated on R3 in the 1970s and 1980s).

What I liked about his talks, apart from his very distinctive voice and clear prose style, was their range. They were not purely on philosophical matters, like his famous debate with Fr Copleston in 1948, but also extended to literature and the arts generally (as he knew so many artists). I particularly remember a talk about Joseph Conrad, whom Russell met and had long talks with.

Nowadays R3 has the Essay (and sometimes the Sunday Feature) as its sole representative of that fine tradition of talks given by people distinguished in their field, but it is a shame that it does not occupy a more prominent position and does not often attract philosophers, poets, playwrights etc.

It is also a shame that a programme about Russell and his involvement with BBC Radio should be on R4 rather than R3.

[salymap]

Thanks aeolium, Sadly this has reminded me of yet another interesting item I lost when my computer had a massive virus some months ago. It comprised a series of talks by Russell, Virginia Woolf, Alistair Cooke and many others.

I would be very grateful if anyone had this on their favourites, or at least a link to it.

[salymap]

Thanks, your post reminded me of this, 'Authors in the BBC Archive', still on this forum and re-downloaded.

Shall listen to BR tonight.

[aeolium]

I think this is probably the one you mean, salymap:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/collections.shtml

There is also archive of Russell delivering the first set of Reith lectures in 1948 (as well as archive of other Reith lecturers):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features...tures/archive/

[umslopogaas]

Thanks for flagging this up, aeolium, I shall try and remember to put the music aside for once and listen. I once read R.W. Clark's biography of Russell (a very large Penguin) and he was an amazing man. His love life was a complicated as his mathematics and Lady Ottoline Morrell was quite a looker! However, I'll be surprised if we hear much about that, I expect this programme will concentrate on the philosophy.

[aeolium]

After all that, R4 changed their schedule to put on a programme about Libya after Gaddafi

The Russell programme still appears in their list of programmes so I presume it will be coming on at a later date, probably in the same Archive slot.

[vinteuil]

Yes, a shame they dropped it - but at least it meant I cd watch A Fistfull of Dollars...

But I do hope the Russell is repeated; I was looking fwd to it.

[aeolium]

But I do hope the Russell is repeated

Or even broadcast once, vinteuil

(end of brief attack of pedantry)

[mercia]

Nowadays R3 has the Essay (and sometimes the Sunday Feature) as its sole representative of that fine tradition of talks given by people distinguished in their field, but it is a shame that it does not occupy a more prominent position and does not often attract philosophers, poets, playwrights etc.

to satisfy my curiosity could you put a name to any present-day philosophers, poets or playwrights whom you would find as interesting to listen to as Russell

[vinteuil]

Or even broadcast once, vinteuil

(end of brief attack of pedantry)

oh, I hang my mortified head - the shame! the shame!!

Thank you for the deserved correction...