Europe In The Looking Glass

Episode

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

20120213

20120214 (R4)

Europe in the Looking Glass is Robert Byron's travel classic, recounting a car journey across Europe in 1926, and providing a mirror on events and nationhood both then and today. Byron (a descendant of the poet) found acclaim as the author of The Road to Oxiana - an account of a trip to Afghanistan and Persia.

It tells the story of three young Englishmen travelling across the neighbouring continent in an unreliable car - encountering the rise of Italian fascism and the anarchy of Greece along the way. In other words, the book offers a compelling mirror on Europe today (a world of technocrats and populists...) with the additional benefit of being witty, colourful and full of apercus about such types as loud American tourists and unwashed German backpackers.

The conclusion offers the travellers (and all of us) a new perspective on their homeland as well as the countries and cultures they explore together.

In part one, they leave Grimsby and motor through northern Germany.

Read by Rupert Penry-Jones.

Producer: David Roper

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.

The men leave Grimsby and motor through northern Germany.

20120214

20120215 (R4)

In part two, they leave Germany for Austria, and on to Italy.

Read by Rupert Penry-Jones.

Producer: David Roper

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.

The men leave Germany for Austria, and on to Italy.

20120215

20120216 (R4)

The men encounter problems at the Italian customs post before trying to become members of the Fascist Party.

The conclusion offers the travellers (and all of us) a new perspective on their homeland as well as the countries and cultures they explore together.

Read by Rupert Penry-Jones.

Producer: David Roper

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.

The men encounter problems at the Italian customs post.

20120216

20120217 (R4)

In part four, the men discover the issues facing Greece between the wars.

The conclusion offers the travellers (and all of us) a new perspective on their homeland as well as the countries and cultures they explore together.

Read by Rupert Penry-Jones.

Producer: David Roper

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.

05 LAST

20120217

20120218 (R4)

The men eventually make their way home.

The conclusion offers the travellers (and all of us) a new perspective on their homeland as well as the countries and cultures they explore together.

Read by Rupert Penry-Jones.

Producer: David Roper

A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.

The travellers return with a new perspective on their homeland, as well as Europe.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	20120213	20120214 (R4)	Europe in the Looking Glass is Robert Byron's travel classic, recounting a car journey across Europe in 1926, and providing a mirror on events and nationhood both then and today. Byron (a descendant of the poet) found acclaim as the author of The Road to Oxiana - an account of a trip to Afghanistan and Persia. It tells the story of three young Englishmen travelling across the neighbouring continent in an unreliable car - encountering the rise of Italian fascism and the anarchy of Greece along the way. In other words, the book offers a compelling mirror on Europe today (a world of technocrats and populists...) with the additional benefit of being witty, colourful and full of apercus about such types as loud American tourists and unwashed German backpackers. The conclusion offers the travellers (and all of us) a new perspective on their homeland as well as the countries and cultures they explore together. In part one, they leave Grimsby and motor through northern Germany. Read by Rupert Penry-Jones. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. The men leave Grimsby and motor through northern Germany.
02	20120214	20120215 (R4)	Europe in the Looking Glass is Robert Byron's travel classic, recounting a car journey across Europe in 1926, and providing a mirror on events and nationhood both then and today. Byron (a descendant of the poet) found acclaim as the author of The Road to Oxiana - an account of a trip to Afghanistan and Persia. In part two, they leave Germany for Austria, and on to Italy. Read by Rupert Penry-Jones. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. The men leave Germany for Austria, and on to Italy.
03	20120215	20120216 (R4)	The men encounter problems at the Italian customs post before trying to become members of the Fascist Party. Europe in the Looking Glass is Robert Byron's travel classic, recounting a car journey across Europe in 1926, and providing a mirror on events and nationhood both then and today. Byron (a descendant of the poet) found acclaim as the author of The Road to Oxiana - an account of a trip to Afghanistan and Persia. The conclusion offers the travellers (and all of us) a new perspective on their homeland as well as the countries and cultures they explore together. Read by Rupert Penry-Jones. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. The men encounter problems at the Italian customs post.
04	20120216	20120217 (R4)	In part four, the men discover the issues facing Greece between the wars. Europe in the Looking Glass is Robert Byron's travel classic, recounting a car journey across Europe in 1926, and providing a mirror on events and nationhood both then and today. Byron (a descendant of the poet) found acclaim as the author of The Road to Oxiana - an account of a trip to Afghanistan and Persia. The conclusion offers the travellers (and all of us) a new perspective on their homeland as well as the countries and cultures they explore together. Read by Rupert Penry-Jones. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.
05 LAST	20120217	20120218 (R4)	The men eventually make their way home. Europe in the Looking Glass is Robert Byron's travel classic, recounting a car journey across Europe in 1926, and providing a mirror on events and nationhood both then and today. Byron (a descendant of the poet) found acclaim as the author of The Road to Oxiana - an account of a trip to Afghanistan and Persia. The conclusion offers the travellers (and all of us) a new perspective on their homeland as well as the countries and cultures they explore together. Read by Rupert Penry-Jones. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. The travellers return with a new perspective on their homeland, as well as Europe.