Bettie's Books

Recommended to ☯Bettie☯ by: Laura

Recommended for: BBC Radio Listeners

Read from June 13 to 20, 2014

BOTW

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b046j8z7

Description: It was 1934 and a young man walked to London from the security of the Cotswolds to make his fortune.

He was to live by playing the violin and by labouring on a London building site. Then, knowing one Spanish phrase, he decided to see Spain. For a year he tramped through a country in which the signs of impending civil war were clearly visible. Thirty years later Laurie Lee captured the atmosphere of the Spain he saw with all the freshness and beauty of a young man's vision, creating a lyrical and lucid picture of the beautiful and violent country that was to involve him.

Laure Lee's classic account of walking through Spain is broadcast to mark the centenary of his birth, and is abridged in five episodes by Katrin Williams.

Episode 1: The author leaves home on a bright Sunday morning, taking his hazel walking stick, some clothes and a trusty violin. Destination? It's London first, then on to.. where?

Episode 2: Laurie's first port of call is Vigo, Spain, for merry-making with Dona Maria and family.

Episode 3: From Vigo, out across the plains, then Madrid and its various attractions. Which means music, cafes, and some new trousers provided by the lovely Concha..

Episode 4: Down a white dusty road with orange trees looms Seville. It's beautiful here and also poor, and there are signs of an armed struggle to come..

Episode 5: The author is in Almunecar and civil war begins. He drinks with men
who are fighting the cause, before finding safe passage back to England.
But is this the end of his travels?