Podcasts 2008: Library life in Iraq, Magna Carta, English and US writers...

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Surface Scanning of Archived Sound Recordings (MP3, 7mins 43sec, 2MB) Listen now

Since 2003, the British Library Sound Archive has been a partner in the Surface Scanning of Archived Sound Recordings research project at the University of Southampton. Professor John McBride, the project's manager and Nigel Bewley, head sound engineer in the Sound Archive, discuss the project. This podcast features audio transferred from the British Library's earliest object containing recorded sound, a Thomas Alva Edison tinfoil recording of c. 1877, unplayable by conventional means. Although the audio is of poor quality, it's extraordinary that the 130-year-old recording survives and is recoverable at all.
Recorded on 8 Dec 2008

Library life in Iraq (MP3, 52mins 46sec, 21.1MB) Listen now

Dr Saad Eskander, head of the Iraq National Library and Archive, became known for his remarkable online diary in 2006-07 on the enormous challenges of running a library in Baghdad during a time of conflict. At this ceremony, introduced by Dame Lynne Brindley, he receives an Honorary Fellowship from CILIP, and talks about his experiences.
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Recorded on 8 Dec 2008

Magna Carta (MP3, 68mins 30sec, 27.4MB) Listen to full lecture
or hear a brief extract (2 min, 1MB)

In this fascinating lecture to accompany the Taking Liberties exhibition, Professor Nicholas Vincent – author and Professor of Medieval History at the University of East Anglia – talks about the great icon of liberty: its background, its significance, and its various physical incarnations. He also punctures a few myths about this most legendary of documents.
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Recorded on 24 Nov 2008

Books as history (MP3, 9mins, 8.7MB) Listen now

David Pearson discusses his book ‘Books as History: The Importance of Books Beyond Their Texts’, which covers the importance of the physical book as an object and the changing environment of book publishing, including the growth of online content and e-readers. Interviewed by Sarah Espiner. Book published by British Library Publishing, £25.
Online Shop - buy this book
Recorded on 20 Oct 2008

The Spoken Word: new writers CDs (MP3, 13mins, 5.6MB) Listen now

Richard Fairman of the British Library Sound Archive discusses The Spoken Word – British Writers and The Spoken Word – American Writers: CD sets containing rare and previously unpublished recordings of famous and influential authors. Includes discussion and audio clips of Arthur Miller, Arthur Conan Doyle and Virginia Woolf. Interviewed by Sarah Espiner.
Online Shop - buy these CDs
Recorded on 20 Oct 2008

Taking Liberties exhibition - introduction (MP3, 4mins, 1.6MB) Listen now

Curator Matthew Shaw talks about some of the remarkable documents on show in the Library's forthcoming exhibition on Britain's struggle for freedoms and rights (31 Oct-1 Mar): from Magna Carta, through the Rights of Man and suffragette diaries, to today's debates about human rights, ID cards, and detention without trial
More about Talking Liberties
Recorded on 18 Sep 2008

Harold Pinter - Interview (MP3, 47mins, 19MB) Listen now

Harold Pinter shares his memories of postwar British theatre with actor and director Harry Burton. Introduced by Jamie Andrews and recorded live at the 'Golden Generation' conference at the British Library on 8–9 September 2008: part of the AHRC-sponsored Theatre Archive Project, a collaboration between the British Library and the University of Sheffield.
Blog about the Library's Pinter archive
Recorded on 8 Sep 2008

The Golden Generation - introduction (MP3, 17mins, 7MB) Listen now

Jamie Andrews, Head of Modern Literary Manuscripts at the British Library, introduces the Library's free new exhibition The Golden Generation, which features audio, video, manuscripts and more from the vibrant postwar age of British theatre 1945-1968. The podcast includes fascinating interview snippets with some of the people working at that time, from the legendary to the unsung.
Recorded on 8 Sep 2008

Valerie Holman - Print for Victory (MP3, 12mins, 5MB) Listen now

Valerie Holman discusses the themes of her book Print For Victory: Book Publishing in England 1939-1945, including the realities of printing during paper rationing, the surprising effects of war on adult literacy and the role the government played in what was read at the time. Interviewed by Sarah Espiner. Book published by the British Library £25.00: ISBN 978-0-7123-5001-3
Recorded on 4 July 2008

Isaac Rosenberg - a Celebration (MP3, 90mins, 41.6MB) Listen now

Equally able as a poet and artist, Isaac Rosenberg is now considered one of the most gifted voices of the First World War generation. His 'Break of Day in the Trenches' has been called ‘the greatest poem of the war. Marking 90 years since his death, the evening of talks and discussion led by Jean Liddiard and Vivien Noakes explored Rosenberg’s world, work and legacy. Introduction by Jamie Andrews. Readings by actor Sam Dastor.
Recorded on 8 April 2008

Malcolm Taylor of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at the English Folk Dance & Song Society introduces. Will Prentice of the British Library Sound Archive on the portable wax cylinder recorder and the conditions under which they were used to make field recordings in the early 20th century. Andrew King, currently researching for a PhD at the University of Sussex based on the EFDSS cylinder collection explores its contents and introduces some of the early collectors and performers. Part of the SoundCases series at the British Library. Speakers are sometimes off-microphone and examples played are as heard by the audience.
Recorded on 12 December 2007

Evelyn Waugh - extracts from new CD (MP3, 8min, 3.1MB) Listen now

Steve Cleary, Curator of Drama and Literature, introduces the new British Library CD. 'The Spoken Word: Evelyn Waugh', with an exclusive clip from the CD of Waugh reading from his own work 'Half in Love with Easeful Death'.
Recorded on 17 March 2008



Neil Gaiman talks about the Ramayana (MP3, 45min, 18.3MB) Listen now

Neil Gaiman, author of the Sandman stories and many others, talks about his film treatment of Ramayana to Ravi Swami, animator, film maker and recent judge at the British Animation Awards.
Recorded on 25 March 2008

About the Ramayana

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