30 Day Challenge, Day 26: Audio

[aililinnea]

30 Days of Christopher Eccleston

26. Favourite audio book/story/drama read by CE

That would have to be Sacred Nation, a documentary he did for BBC radio about the religious history of Britain. It's great because it's a fascinating subject, and it's *hours* long - hours and hours of Eccles-voice. [UPDATE: Sacred Nation is once again available

Comments

[bloose09]

Isn't it great that CE has done a wide range of audio material over the years. BBC Radio has a number of quality channels featuring material for everyone.

'Sacred Nation' covered so many eras, yet remained interesting. Do you recall something like this ever being done in the US?

No love for mezzo-soprano's? Katherine Jenkins was at the beginning of what has become a very successful and lucrative career when she did 'Crossing the Dark Sea'. The BBC had a number of very compelling specials marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day. It was fascinating to hear about this historical event from another nation's POV. I gained a whole new level of respect for the WWII generation of Great Britain.

"A Day in the Death of Joe Egg" is definitely worth a listen now and again. You are right that it is a bit dated though.

[aililinnea]

So the 60th anniversary stuff was while you were living in England? Cool.

Yeah, it's a personal quirk: I can listen to Appalachian grandmothers or Bulgarian singers who think a minor second is a nice harmony, but classically trained women's voices are like nails on a blackboard to me. Too much airiness and vibrato, or something.

I love BBC Radio. I can't think of anything like that in the U.S.; even NPR doesn't really do historical documentaries like Sacred Nation. I never got a chance to listen to the whole thing before it disappeared from ATBN.

[bigbadwolfeboro]

Thanks for posting this. Hadn't run across Sacred Nation before. I don't visit Art Thou Beguil'd Now as much as I should. Shame Sacred Nation is not out on CD or mp3/iTunes download. I'm rather fond of the Devil's Christmas production, particularly "The Signalman" portion of that.

[aililinnea]

Hi there! Actually, Sacred Nation is now once again available through Art Thou Beguiled Now - go here: http://chrisecclestonbulletin.blogspot.com/2010/06/have-radio.html and then click the link that says "Radio". There are a bunch of files that have rather abbreviated names - Sacred Nation is called "Nation" and it's in six parts. I'll go edit the original entry. It's really fascinating to listen to, and it's the wonderful Eccles-voice!

[bigbadwolfeboro]

Thanks :)