David Vann - Caribou Island

Episodes

EpisodeFirst
Broadcast
Comments
0120110207Caribou Island is the second novel from David Vann, whose groundbreaking first book, Legend of a Suicide, has become a best-seller around the world and has just won the 2010 Prix Medicis Etranger. It will be broadcast just after publication.

Caribou Island is again set in Vann's native Alaska, amid the icy, glacier fed lakes and the remote islands covered in alder and Sitka spruce. And it is on such island, far from any habitation, that Gary, a medievalist who fled to Alaska thirty years ago with his young wife Irene, in search of an idyll, is now determined to begin once again. He will build a simple cabin there and at last find peace. Irene joins him in his endeavour but there are costs.

Meanwhile her daughter Rhoda dreams of marriage with Jim, a dentist, who is about to enter his own 'mid-life crisis'.

Fluid, often funny and sometimes raw, David Vann explores the depths an unravelling marriage can sink to and the hopes the young still entertain.

In the first episode of Caribou Island Gary and Irene load up with logs and set out to build their own piece of paradise.

The reader is William Hope

The abridger is Sally Marmion

The producer is Di Speirs.

Caribou Island is published by Viking.

On the shores of a glacier-fed lake, Gary is going to follow his dream whatever the cost.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0220110208Caribou Island is set in David Vann's native Alaska, amid the icy, glacier fed lakes and the remote islands covered in alder and Sitka spruce. And it is on such island, far from any habitation, that Gary, a medievalist who fled to Alaska thirty years before with his young wife Irene, in search of an unattainable idyll, is now determined to begin once again. He will build a simple cabin there and at last find peace. Irene joins him in his endeavour, understanding, unlike her husband, that there are costs.

Meanwhile her daughter Rhoda dreams of marriage with Jim, a dentist, who is about to enter his own 'mid-life crisis'.

Fluid, often funny and sometimes raw, David Vann explores the depths an unravelling marriage can sink to and the hopes the young still entertain.

Today: Gary's first shot at building the log retreat of his dreams is already having consequences. Meanwhile Jim, the dentist, is conjuring his own fantasy.

The reader is William Hope

The abridger is Sally Marmion

The producer is Di Speirs.

Caribou Island is the second novel from David Vann, whose groundbreaking first book, Legend of a Suicide, has become a best-seller around the world and has just won the 2010 Prix Medicis Etranger. Caribou Island is broadcast just after publication.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0320110209Caribou Island is set in David Vann's native Alaska, amid the icy, glacier fed lakes and the remote islands covered in alder and Sitka spruce. And it is on such island, far from any habitation, that Gary, a medievalist who fled to Alaska thirty years ago with his young wife Irene, in search of an unattainable idyll, is now determined to begin once again. He will build a simple cabin there and at last find peace. Irene joins him in his endeavour, understanding, unlike her husband, that there are costs.

Meanwhile her daughter Rhoda dreams of marriage with Jim, a dentist, who is about to enter his own 'mid-life crisis'.

Fluid, often funny and sometimes raw, David Vann explores the depths an unravelling marriage can sink to and the hopes the young, and young at heart, still entertain.

Today: As Gary grapples with the very foundations of his dream, Jim is entering a world of delight, and deceit, far from his dentist's chair.

The reader is William Hope

The abridger is Sally Marmion

The producer is Di Speirs.

Caribou Island is the second novel from David Vann, whose groundbreaking first book, Legend of a Suicide, has become a best-seller around the world and has just won the 2010 Prix Medicis Etranger. Caribou Island is broadcast just after publication.

As Gary grapples with the very foundations of his dream, Jim enters a world of delight.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0420110210Caribou Island is set in David Vann's native Alaska, amid the icy, glacier fed lakes and the remote islands covered in alder and Sitka spruce. And it is on such island, far from any habitation, that Gary, a medievalist who fled to Alaska thirty years ago with his young wife Irene, in search of an unattainable idyll, is now determined to begin once again. He will build a simple cabin there and at last find peace. Irene joins him in his endeavour, understanding, unlike her husband, that there are costs.

Meanwhile her daughter Rhoda dreams of marriage with Jim, a dentist, who is entering his own 'mid-life crisis'.

Fluid, funny and sometimes raw, David Vann explores the depths an unravelling marriage can sink to and the hopes the young, and the young at heart, still entertain.

Today: Rhoda surprises Jim with unexpected guests and Gary faces another hurdle in the construction of his cabin home.

The reader is William Hope

The abridger is Sally Marmion

The producer is Di Speirs.

Caribou Island is the second novel from David Vann, whose groundbreaking first book, Legend of a Suicide, has become a best-seller around the world and has just won the 2010 Prix Medicis Etranger. Caribou Island is broadcast just after publication.

Rhoda surprises Jim with unexpected guests, and Gary faces another hurdle with his cabin.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0520110211Caribou Island is set in David Vann's native Alaska, amid the icy, glacier fed lakes and the remote islands covered in alder and Sitka spruce. And it is on such island, far from any habitation, that Gary, a medievalist who fled to Alaska thirty years before with his young wife Irene, in search of an unattainable idyll, is now determined to begin once again. He will build a simple cabin there and at last find peace. Irene joins him in his endeavour, understanding, unlike her husband, that there are costs.

Meanwhile her daughter Rhoda dreams of marriage with Jim, a dentist suffering his own 'mid-life crisis'.

Fluid,sometimes funny and sometimes raw, David Vann explores the depths an unravelling marriage can sink to and the hopes the young still entertain.

Today: Jim's dreams are dashed while Irene wonders if hers were ever realistic.

The reader is William Hope

The abridger is Sally Marmion

The producer is Di Speirs.

Caribou Island is the second novel from David Vann, whose groundbreaking first book, Legend of a Suicide, has become a best-seller around the world and has just won the 2010 Prix Medicis Etranger. Caribou Island is broadcast just after publication.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0620110214Caribou Island is set in David Vann's native Alaska, amid the icy, glacier fed lakes and the remote islands covered in alder and Sitka spruce. And it is on such island, far from any habitation, that Gary, a mediaevalist who fled to Alaska thirty years with his young wife Irene, in search of an unattainable idyll, is now determined to begin once again. He will build a simple cabin there and at last find peace. Irene joins him in his endeavour, understanding, unlike her husband, that there are costs.

Meanwhile her daughter Rhoda dreams of marriage with Jim, a dentist, who is about to enter his own 'mid-life crisis'.

Fluid and sometimes raw, David Vann explores the depths an unravelling marriage can sink to and the hopes the young still entertain.

Today: Irene's headaches seem to have no physical cause. Can it be the strain of the cabin project? And can it really be that small? Meanwhile without Monique, Jim plans to make it up to Rhoda and make a new life plan.

The reader is William Hope

The abridger is Sally Marmion

The producer is Di Speirs.

Caribou Island is the second novel from David Vann, whose groundbreaking first book, Legend of a Suicide, has become a best-seller around the world and has just won the 2010 Prix Medicis Etranger. Caribou Island is broadcast just after publication.

Despite her headaches, Irene goes to see Gary's cabin work and Jim dreams of a new life.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0720110215Caribou Island is set in David Vann's native Alaska, amid the icy, glacier fed lakes and the remote islands covered in alder and Sitka spruce. And it is on such island, far from any habitation, that Gary, a medievalist who fled to Alaska thirty years with his young wife Irene, in search of an unattainable idyll, is now determined to begin once again. He will build a simple cabin there and at last find peace. Irene joins him in his endeavour, understanding, unlike her husband, that there are costs.

Meanwhile her daughter Rhoda dreams of marriage with Jim, a dentist, who is about to enter his own 'mid-life crisis'.

Fluid and sometimes raw, David Vann explores the depths an unravelling marriage can sink to and the hopes the young still entertain.

Today: Rhoda ponders on love and marriage and the hopelessness of Jim, while, on the island as the first storm of winter rages, Gary communes with his Viking heroes.

The reader is William Hope

The abridger is Sally Marmion

The producer is Di Speirs.

Caribou Island is the second novel from David Vann, whose groundbreaking first book, Legend of a Suicide, has become a best-seller around the world and has just won the 2010 Prix Medicis Etranger. Caribou Island is broadcast just after publication.

Rhoda ponders the hopelessness of Jim, while Gary communes with his Viking heroes.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0820110216Caribou Island is set in David Vann's native Alaska, amid the icy, glacier fed lakes and the remote islands covered in alder and Sitka spruce. And it is on such island, far from any habitation, that Gary, a mediaevalist who fled to Alaska thirty years with his young wife Irene, in search of an unattainable idyll, is now determined to begin once again. He will build a simple cabin there and at last find peace. Irene joins him in his endeavour, understanding, unlike her husband, that there are costs.

Meanwhile her daughter Rhoda dreams of marriage with Jim, a dentist, who is about to enter his own 'mid-life crisis'.

Fluid and sometimes raw, David Vann explores the depths an unravelling marriage can sink to and the hopes the young still entertain.

Today: Jim finally has a question for Rhoda, but is it too late? And is it too late, as the storm rages round the island, for Gary and Irene to succeed?

The reader is William Hope

The abridger is Sally Marmion

The producer is Di Speirs.

Caribou Island is the second novel from David Vann, whose groundbreaking first book, Legend of a Suicide, has become a best-seller around the world and has just won the 2010 Prix Medicis Etranger. Caribou Island is broadcast just after publication.

Jim finally has a question for Rhoda. And is it too late for Gary and Irene to succeed?

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

0920110217Caribou Island is set in David Vann's native Alaska, amid the icy, glacier fed lakes and the remote islands covered in alder and Sitka spruce. And it is on such island, far from any habitation, that Gary, a medievalist who fled to Alaska thirty years ago with his young wife Irene, in search of an unattainable idyll, is now determined to begin once again. He will build a simple cabin there and at last find peace. Irene joins him in his endeavour, understanding, unlike her husband, that there are costs.

Meanwhile her daughter Rhoda dreams of marriage with Jim, a dentist, who is about to enter his own 'mid-life crisis'.

Fluid and sometimes raw, David Vann explores the depths an unravelling marriage can sink to and the hopes the young still entertain.

Today: In a powerful and uncompromising episode, as the cabin nears its faltering completion, Irene understands how alone she really is.

The reader is William Hope

The abridger is Sally Marmion

The producer is Di Speirs.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

1020110218Caribou Island is set in David Vann's native Alaska, amid the icy, glacier fed lakes and the remote islands covered in alder and Sitka spruce. And it is on such island, far from any habitation, that Gary, a medievalist who fled to Alaska thirty years ago with his young wife Irene, in search of an unattainable idyll, is now determined to begin once again. He will build a simple cabin there and at last find peace. Irene joins him in his endeavour, understanding, unlike her husband, that there are costs.

Meanwhile her daughter Rhoda dreams of marriage with Jim, a dentist, who is about to enter his own 'mid-life crisis'.

Fluid and sometimes raw, David Vann explores the depths an unravelling marriage can sink to and the hopes the young still entertain.

Today: While Rhoda fears for her parents on the island and tries to find a way reach them, Irene confronts her loneliness and finds a stark and uncompromising solution.

The reader is William Hope

The abridger is Sally Marmion

The producer is Di Speirs.

While Rhoda tries to find a way reach her parents, Irene confronts her loneliness.

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature