Wide Sargasso Sea Audiobook Download: A Journey Through Time

This Sunday, the final episode of my BBC Radio 3 documentary series, Literary Pursuits, will air, bringing to a close an incredible journey that has taken me across Britain and beyond. As I reflect on the experience, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities it has afforded me.

The story behind the writing of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, is just one of the many fascinating tales that I have had the privilege to explore during this series. But it is not just the stories themselves that have captivated me - it is also the people who have shared their insights and experiences with me.

One of the most memorable moments for me was sitting down with Diana Athill, as she shared her memories of Jean Rhys and the journey to publication of Wide Sargasso Sea. It was a truly unforgettable experience, and one that has stayed with me long after we finished recording.

Throughout this series, I have learned so much about the novels we worked on, their stories, and how to make compelling radio documentaries while staying true to my scholarly values. Researching, writing, and recording these programs over the past four years has been a joyous experience that I will always treasure.

As I stand down as writer and presenter of Literary Pursuits, I am filled with a mix of emotions. While it is hard to say goodbye to this project, I am excited to devote more time and energy to my academic work and family.

The story of Golding's Lord of the Flies, which we explored in our final episode, is a particularly poignant one. It tells the tale of how this iconic novel made its way from the reject pile at Faber and Fabyer into becoming a beloved classic of the 20th century. It was an incredible privilege to interview Golding's daughter, Judy Carver, and to see his journals, which few people have ever had access to.

I hope that listeners will continue to enjoy these eight episodes, and that they will take away as much pleasure and knowledge from them as I did in making them. And who knows? Maybe one day, we'll see a Wide Sargasso Sea audiobook download become available, allowing us all to immerse ourselves in the world of Jean Rhys' classic novel once more.

Listen again to the final episode of Literary Pursuits on BBC Radio 3.

Wide sargasso sea audiobook download