The Essay

Diaries are one of our oldest literary traditions, conjuring questions of private confessions and public display. In this series of essays we explore five diarists of the past through the lens of the present. In these extraordinary times, when the shift between the domestic and the out-of-reach wider world is ever more pronounced, Radio 3 has commissioned five Essays on the theme of diaries – five new diaries written during the unprecedented period of recent weeks, reflecting on the present moment and reaching out to another historical literary diarist for aid and inspiration.4. Ian Sansom: Cheese Dreams with Graham GreeneIan Sansom explores his own and Graham Greene’s active dream life.

Diaries are one of our oldest literary traditions, conjuring questions of private confessions and public display. In this series of essays we explore five diarists of the past through the lens of the present. In these extraordinary times, when the shift between the domestic and the out-of-reach wider world is ever more pronounced, Radio 3 has commissioned five Essays on the theme of diaries – five new diaries written during the unprecedented period of recent weeks, reflecting on the present moment and reaching out to another historical literary diarist for aid and inspiration.3. Helen Mort: More Than Enough Poet Helen Mort's daily exercise walks with her toddler echo the rooted explorations of Dorothy Wordsworth in the Lake District.

Diaries are one of our oldest literary traditions, conjuring questions of private confessions and public display. In this series of essays we explore five diarists of the past through the lens of the present. In these extraordinary times, when the shift between the domestic and the out-of-reach wider world is ever more pronounced, Radio 3 has commissioned five Essays on the theme of diaries – five new diaries written during the unprecedented period of recent weeks, reflecting on the present moment and reaching out to another historical literary diarist for aid and inspiration.2. AL Kennedy: Hope On, Hope EverThe fortitude and humanity in the diaries of Antarctic explorer Edward Wilson are a counterpoint and inspiration to AL Kennedy in her days denied human contact and open space.

Diaries are one of our oldest literary traditions, conjuring questions of private confessions and public display. In this series of essays we explore five diarists of the past through the lens of the present. In these extraordinary times, when the shift between the domestic and the out-of-reach wider world is ever more pronounced, Radio 3 has commissioned five Essays on the theme of diaries – five new diaries written during the unprecedented period of recent weeks, reflecting on the present moment and reaching out to another historical literary diarist for aid and inspiration.1. AL Kennedy: The Towers We Founded and the Lamps We LitFrom the stasis of her confinement, AL Kennedy pursues the ever-restless wanderings of Robert Louis Stevenson.

leading writers share their secrets of places of inner sanctuary 10.Aida Edemariam

leading writers on places of inner sanctuary in times of crisis 8.michael morpurgo

Leading writers share the secrets of places of inner sanctuary 9.David Constantine

leading writers on a place of inner refuge in times of crisis 7.evie wyld

leading writers share the secrets of their internal places of refuge in times of crisis

Leading writers share secrets of their place of internal refuge 5.Alice Oswald

leading writers share the secrets of places of internal refuge in crisis 4.Tessa Hadley

leading writers evoke places of internal refuges which they visit in times of crisis

Leading writers share the secrets of places of internal refuge in times of crisis

Writers on personal places of refuge in times of crisis 1.Alan Hollinghurst

Marybeth Hamilton on the ghosts of Joe Hill and Paul Robeson and their linked fates.

Paul Robeson's life and struggle through songs .Tayo Aluko on Robeson's Zog Nit Keynmol.

Paul Robeson's life and struggle told through music. Matthew Sweet on the Canoe Song.

Paul Robeson's life and struggle through song. Shana Redmond on No More Auction Block.

The life of Paul Robeson in songs. Granddaughter Susan Robeson on Ol' Man River.

Jon Gower, writer and keen walker of the Welsh mountains, explores the unique characteristics of each of Wales's five ranges and reflects on what they mean to the people who live among them.For many people, Wales is synonymous with its mountains. They occupy a unique place in the country's ancient mythology, its history and its culture, defining who rules the country, who lives in it, and how they survive. But each of the mountain ranges of Wales has its own unique character. In this series of The Essay, Jon Gower paints a detailed portrait of the landscape of these higher places, and in doing so, explores how they’ve shaped the country's psyche.In ‘The Preseli Mountains’, Jon explores the most mystical range of mountains, which are barely mountains, though the highest of them, Foel Cwmcerwyn, stands tall and sentinel enough to have guided the sailors of west Wales safely to shore. On a clear day you can see not only the patterned field tapestries of Pembrokeshire – shot through with the gold threads of gors