Desert Island Discs: Archive 1986-1991 - Maeve Binchy

The castaway in this week's Desert Island Discs is novelist Maeve Binchy. During her Catholic childhood in a small Irish village, she nurtured an ambition, not just to lead a life of religious devotion, but to become a saint. Later on, she aspired to the legal profession, where her horizons stretched far beyond barristers and briefs to, at the very least, Chief Justice of Ireland. But it was ultimately as a writer that Maeve Binchy achieved enormous success, with novels like Light a Penny Candle and many others making her name as one of the most successful popular authors of her time. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her childhood in Ireland, the loss of her religious faith and her ultimate success as an author of popular fiction.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: The Brendan Theme by Liam O'Flynn
Book: Teach Yourself Bridge
Luxury: Photograph album

Published on Sunday, 10th June 1990.

Available Podcasts from Desert Island Discs: Archive 1986-1991

Subscribe to Desert Island Discs: Archive 1986-1991

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Desert Island Discs: Archive 1986-1991 webpage.