Episode Topic: "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square"

In the final week of London in Song, we focus on one of the most successful London songs of the twentieth century. Written in 1939, with words by Eric Maschwitz and music by Manning Sherwin, this romantic ballad was quickly established as a standard of the lounge repertoire and has been recorded by Vera Lynn, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Harry Connick Jr., Mel Torme, and Rod Stewert among many others. The song takes its title from a short story by Michael Arlen. This week we will consider what happens in the translation from short story to song, and we will ask what it means for a nightingale to sing in Berkeley Square.

Featured Speakers: 

• Ian Newman, Professor in the English Department and Fellow of the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies and of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, University of Notre Dame
• Rev. Jim Lies C.S.C., Senior Director for Academic Initiatives and Partnerships for the Notre Dame London Global Gateway, University of Notre Dame

Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: go.nd.edu/bd5689.

This podcast is a part of the London Book Club ThinkND Series titled “London in Song”.

Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career.

• Learn more about ThinkND and register for upcoming live events at think.nd.edu.
• Join our LinkedIn community for updates, episode clips, and more.