Alistair Cooke was, for those who have never heard any of the Letters from America broadcasts, a sort of Chekhov of the radio. These broadcasts here are fine examples: a passing observation or carefully observed detail often sends you back to listen again.
His genius - which was that he knew just about everything - was always worn lightly and he always smartly distanced himself from that patrician air that great commentators are liable to adopt.
As I read Dreams of My Father recently, I found myself wondering what he might have said about Obama. On the evidence below, there is no doubt he would have voiced the unexpected.
01 The U.S.A.
02 The South
03 Alcatraz
04 The New Californians
05 The Non-Assassination of John F. Kennedy
06 A Tiny Claim to Fame
07 A Ruined Woman
3 comments:
My dear Tardy,
Thanks for taking the trouble to find and upload this fab stuff on Alistair Cooke.
My journalism students, especially those in radio, will be delighted to hear an Old Master's Voice and indebted to you for your caring.
I was in Leeds during 1990-93, when my wife was doing her PhD there. Where are you and what do you do, Tardy? My email ID is sangatizuzay@gmail.com, in case you want to keep in touch with me beyond the blogosphere.
Warm regards,
- Joe.
Nice post - Alistair Cooke ..Keep Posting
Ron
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Thanks for sharing this. I remember his marvelous TV series on America from 1976 that was produced to commemorate the bicentennial ...
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