Great Lives

"Whenever I have too much to drink, I bang on about Dante ...." Sarah Vine makes a choice from the heart - the great Italian writer Dante Alighieri, father of the Italian language and author of the Divine Comedy. "I'm not an expert," she says, "mine is more of a romantic infatuation." As well as the outspoken Daily Mail columnist, Matthew Parris is joined by Claire Honess, professor of Italian studies at Leeds University. Together they piece together an extraordinary life. Includes extracts from Radio 4's production of the Divine Comedy starring John Hurt Producer: Miles WardeFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2014.

Solo percussionist, Evelyn Glennie explains her admiration for cellist, Jacqueline Du Pre.Presented by Matthew Parris.With music writer and broadcaster, Stephen Johnson.Producer: Perminder KhatkarFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2014.

The DJ Sara Cox nominates Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, a hip hop artist and rapper who performed with the band TLC. She burned her lover's house down and TLC went bankrupt. Lisa died in a car accident aged 30, during a documentary shoot. The expert witness is music journalist Jacqueline Springer.Presenter: Matthew Parris Producer: Perminder KhatkarFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2014.

Businessman Mark Constantine chooses Lebanese-American author of ‘The Prophet’, Khalil Gibran. With Matthew Parris. Snubbed and practically ignored by the literary establishment in the West, but regarded by millions as a world-class poet his work, The Prophet, published in 1923, has never been out of print and next to the bible is the biggest selling book in America. Businessman Mark Constantine champions the poet and together with the actor Nadim Sawalha. Matthew Parris is the presenter. Producer : Perminder KhatkarFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2014.

At home in Edinburgh Isabella Bird was the very picture of the ailing Victorian spinster but the moment her tiny feet hit the gangway of a steamer or squeezed into the stirrups of a horse she was transformed. Taking a doctor's advice to travel for the sake of her health Isabella headed for Australia, Japan, Korea and Hawaii before finding her spiritual home amongst the most rotten scoundrels of America's West. In 'Great Lives' the award-winning author of novels including 'How I Live Now' and 'The Bride's Farewell', Meg Rosoff explains why Isabella's transformation has inspired her books and her love of horses. She's joined by David McClay from the National Library of Scotland who maintains an archive of Isabella's colourful correspondence from the farthest flung corners of the Earth.First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

Comedian Dave Allen is chosen by Adil Ray, creator and star of Citizen Khan. He explains to Matthew Parris how the legendary Irish comic helped shape his own career.Producer: Perminder Khatkar.First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2014.

Writer and comedian David Baddiel chooses the American novelist, John Updike. With Matthew Parris and Justin Cartwright. His novels perfectly captured the shifting moral codes of middle America in the 1970s and 80s but do John Updike's novels still have something important to tell us today? The writer and comedian David Baddiel makes the case for Updike in conversation with Matthew Parris and the novelist and Updike expert, Justin Cartwright.First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2014.

Award-winning architect Sir David Chipperfield chooses the pioneer of modern architectureLe Corbusier aimed to build a better world through radical buildings and the controversial reshaping of whole cities.Sir David joins Matthew Parris to unpick the life of a man who considered himself a heroic figure, fighting battles to improve the world.With expert witness: Flora Samuel, Professor of Architecture at the University of Sheffield.Producer: Melvin RickarbyFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

Matthew Parris is joined by Michael Horovitz who nominates fellow poet and founder of the 'Beat Generation', Allen Ginsberg, as his Great Life. Ginsberg's friend and biographer Barry Miles provides biographical detail of this colourful and controversial writer, who through his battle for free expression inspired American counter culture.Producer: Melvin RickarbyFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

The life of the 'Hillbilly Shakespeare' Hank Williams is the choice of Deacon Blue singer Ricky Ross. Williams is regarded as being the prototype rock star and continues to be hugely influential on musicians today despite a short recording career of just six years before he died at the age of 29. Matthew Parris presents. With Nick Barraclough as the expert witness. Producer: Maggie AyreFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.