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Great Lives Episodes

  1.

    Alexander the Great

    Writer Frederic Raphael chooses part man, part myth Alexander the Great.

  2. Jazzie B on James Brown

    Soul II Soul's Jazzie B chooses the life of musician and singer James Brown.

  3. Viscount Slim

    Lord Carrington and Lord John Slim discuss military leader, Field-Marshal Viscount Slim.

  4. Jonathan Meades on Edward Burra

    Writer Jonathan Meades nominates the English artist Edward Burra.

  5. Franz Schubert

    Cellist Steven Isserlis and musicologist Brian Newbould on the composer Franz Schubert.

  6. George Eliot

    Ex-parliamentary standards commissioner Elizabeth Filkin chooses novelist George Eliot.

  7. Sir Donald Wolfit

    Humphrey Carpenter invites Ned Sherrin to discuss actor Sir Donald Wolfit.

  8. King Hussein

    Jackie Stewart discusses his good friend King Hussein of Jordan with writer Patrick Seale.

  9. Vivekananda

    Rabbi Lionel Blue and Gwilym Beckerlegge discuss Swami Vivekananda.

  10. Clement Attlee

    Bookseller Tim Waterstone and biographer Ben Pimlott discuss the former prime minister.

  11. Marshall McLuhan

    Kim Henry Veltman joins director Jonathan Miller to discuss the Canadian writer on media.

  12. Henri Matisse

    Writer Frank Delaney and biographer Hilary Spurling discuss the painter Henri Matisse

  13. Sylvia Pankhurst

    Barbara Castle and biographer Mary Davis discuss the life of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst.

  14. Ernest Hemingway

    Monty Python's Michael Palin chooses the American writer, Ernest Hemingway.

  15. Friedrich Nietzsche

    Cartoonist Ralph Steadman and translator Adam Czerniawski discuss the philosopher's life.

  16. Ernest Hemingway

    Michael Palin nominates Ernest Hemingway as his Great Life.

  17. Michelin Brothers

    Sir Terence Conran nominates the Michelin brothers, makers of the pneumatic tyre.

  18. Emma Kirkby on Henry Purcell

    Soprano Emma Kirkby discusses the life of composer Henry Purcell with Matthew Parris

  19. Sir Ernest Shackleton

    The polar explorer's life is scrutinised by Rosie Boycott and his granddaughter Alexandra.

  20. John Craven on Brunel

    John Craven proposes Victorian Engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, as a great life.

  21. HG Wells

    Writer Fay Weldon and biographer Vincent Brome discuss the life of the visionary novelist.

  22. Isy Suttie on Jake Thackray

    Isy Suttie chooses Yorkshire-born singer songwriter Jake Thackray

  23. Deborah Moggach on Arnold Bennett

    The author Deborah Moggach talks about the life of Potteries writer Arnold Bennett.

  24. Marcus du Sautoy on Jorge Luis Borges

    Blind Argentinian writer Borges is championed by Marcus de Sautoy.

  25. Sir Mark Walport on Sir Hans Sloane

    Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum, is championed by Sir Mark Walport.

  26. Sarah Vine on Dante

    Sarah Vine chooses Dante, author of the Italian literary masterpiece the Divine Comedy

  27. Evelyn Glennie on Jacqueline Du Pre

    English Cellist Jacqueline Du Pre is championed by solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie.

  28. DJ Sara Cox nominates singer Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes

    Sara Cox nominates the American hip hop artist and rapper Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.

  29. Mark Constantine on Kahlil Gibran

    Businessman Mark Constantine champions the life of Kahlil Gibran with Matthew Parris.

  30. Dave Allen chosen by Adil Ray

    Irish Comic Dave Allen is chosen by actor and comedian Adil Ray. Matthew Parris presents

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