Hello I'm Kristi Young and this is a download from the Desert Island Discs archive.

This edition may be slightly different from what was actually broadcast,

but it's the only version we have.

It comes from the British Library's radio collection. It was

archived without the music, so although the Castaways choices are introduced,

they're not part of this recording. Full details can be found on the Castaways page on the Desert Island Discs website.

The program was originally broadcast in 1982.

And the presenter was Roy Plumlee.

On our Desert Island this week is the novelist Rosamond Lehman.

Miss Lehman, could you endure isolation?

Yes, I think I could, quite well.

Say, accustomed now to living... Yes, I think I could quite well.

I accustomed now to living alone, and I really enjoy solitude,

though I can't imagine what would be like if I wasn't looking forward to sing somebody or some people or a grandchild next day or the same evening.

You have this meager allowance of just eight discs. Is music important in your life? Very important, yes. Have you

any musical skill? Do you play an instrument? Well I used to play the piano, but I was so much less good than I wanted to be that I gave it up.

I'm rather sorry I did now.

But music does mean a great deal to me.

Do you play discs a lot? Yes I do, yes I do.

All sorts. All sorts. That's why it's been so difficult to choose.

Well you have chosen. We've got your list here. In fact we've got the discs here. What's the first one?

Well, the first one I've chosen, it's been very difficult to Jews, but I have chosen,

...