James Naughtie and readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best known novels. Authors include: Douglas Adams, Alan Bennett, Alice Sebold and Maya Angelou.

A partial archive Desert Island Discs from 1956 to 1960. Castaways choose eight records, a book and a luxury to take with them to the mythical desert island. 

A partial archive of Desert Island Discs from 1960 to 1969. Some Desert Island Discs programmes only exist in their incomplete form. They may be missing interview content or the musical choices. Where possible, the missing music has been rebuilt using discs from the BBC Gramophone Library. This collection comprises fragments from 1960-69.


Some Desert Island Discs programmes only exist in their incomplete form. They may be missing interview content or the musical choices. Where possible, the missing music has been rebuilt using discs from the BBC Gramophone Library. This collection comprises fragments from 1970-86.

Desert Island Discs Archive: 1951-1955
Castaways choose eight records, a book and a luxury to take with them to the mythical desert island. Full listings can be found on the Desert Island Discs website.

Desert Island Discs Archive: 1961-1965
Castaways choose eight records, a book and a luxury to take with them to the mythical desert island. Full listings can be found on the Desert Island Discs website. 

Desert Island Discs Archive: 1966-1970
Castaways choose eight records, a book and a luxury to take with them to the mythical desert island. Full listings can be found on the Desert Island Discs website. 

Desert Island Discs Archive: 1981-1985
Castaways choose eight records, a book and a luxury to take with them to the mythical desert island. Full listings can be found on the Desert Island Discs website. 

I'm a reporter at the Financial Times in London covering digital media

Dede Dolken is following