Desert Island Discs

Peter Carey


Listen Later

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the author Peter Carey. He says he grew up in his homeland "thinking that Australian history was dull and Australian literature was dull" and that he developed a strong passion to make it new and fresh. In this he has surely succeeded - he is one of only two novelists to have been awarded the Booker Prize twice.

Yet he came to writing relatively late. The son of a car salesman he started off studying science but he abandoned his university career and ended up, in his 20s, drifting into advertising. It was only then that his literary awakening began. "I announced with great confidence one day, 'I’m going to be a writer',' he says, 'I’m an obsessive fool, I was determined to do it!"

Favourite track: The Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah by George Frideric Handel

Book: Austerlitz by W G Sebald
Luxury: A ‘magic’ pudding and a drink

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Desert Island DiscsBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

1,469 ratings


More shows like Desert Island Discs

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,773 Listeners

The Archers by BBC Radio 4

The Archers

1,102 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,068 Listeners

Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

401 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,475 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,822 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,814 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,066 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010

148 Listeners

THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST by ADAM BUXTON

THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

1,200 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2011-2015 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2011-2015

59 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,151 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,224 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

755 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,045 Listeners

Life Changing by BBC Radio 4

Life Changing

104 Listeners

Comfort Eating with Grace Dent by The Guardian

Comfort Eating with Grace Dent

134 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

113 Listeners

Dish by Cold Glass Productions

Dish

771 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

873 Listeners

The Louis Theroux Podcast by Spotify Studios

The Louis Theroux Podcast

356 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

47 Listeners

Off Air with Jane & Fi by The Times

Off Air with Jane & Fi

163 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

503 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018

25 Listeners