Desert Island discs and favourite characters

[learnsslowly]

I don't know if anyone reading here remembers the radio programme "Desert Island discs"? Notable people were interviewed about their life and this was interspersed with their 7 choices of gramophone records to take to a deserted island on which they would be marooned for a long time. They were also allowed to choose a luxury item, that had to be

Comments

[heliopausa]

I've never heard the show, but I mostly understand the requirements. May I ask what year it is? (It can't possibly be 2015!)

[learnsslowly]

First broadcast 1942. Change of regular presenter in 2006, and may still be going, so you could choose what ever year you liked. I'm guessing 1965 to 1985 for the Ransome characters, but maybe 1947 to 1955 for Lord Peter and Harriet.

[heliopausa]

I'd be most interested to hear what either of the Wimseys might choose in wartime, given their known commitment to facing harsh realities while at the same time knowing that preserving home-front morale was essential. What do you suggest?

Meanwhile, as my own poor offering, can I put on record that when the famous detective Hercule Poirot went on the show in 1948, he took with him his own metronome, in order to demonstrate, as he said, "the so-beautiful order that is the great genius of Bach"; he also argued with some passion that the tempo markings as applied on some Mozart recordings, including those produced by the BBC for the occasion, fell sadly short of the required precision.

The single book he chose to take with him was Les Misérables, remarking to Roy Plomley, "In this, I find not only the history, the philosophy, but what is the more important, mon ami, the heart!"

He declined to reveal to Plomley, however, the reasons which lay behind his last choice of disc, Vous et Moi, by Lise Coliny, saying only, "Mais non, M'sieur

[learnsslowly]

Of course Hercule Poirot would be a guest. Why did I not realise? I suspect his luxury would be a mustache grooming kit. I wonder if he would be allowed a mirror or if that would be seen as a signalling device?

[learnsslowly]

Husband believes that Sherlock Holmes would take his violin and chose quite a bit of opera, although not exclusively.

I think Peter Wimsey would take his piano and a complete works of John Donne and his musical choices would include Bach as well.

Regarding musical choices, Wimsey would say something to Harriet along the lines of "cheerful I don't mind, but I draw the line as tawdry" Bawdy on the other hand would be quite acceptable to Lord Peter, but not to the Home Service!

[heliopausa]

The piano! That's quite a picture being conjured up, of the piano being lugged up a sandy beach!

Sherlock Homes and opera... that's one which calls for careful consideration. Hhhmmm....

:)

[learnsslowly]

Husband also thinks Father Brown would choose an umbrella as his luxury

I would like think of Harriet Vane choosing "the divine comedy" by Dante, translated by Dorothy L. Sayers for her book. I'm not sure if it was ever issued as one, rather than 3 volumes though. If she has to choose one, it will be Purgatory. Her luxury, like Dot's will probably be a really big notebook, pen and ink. (Or possibly pencils and sharpener in Dot's case.)