On Disappointment

In this episode, she takes a look at artistic disappointment, from 19th-century artist Benjamin Haydon whose attempts to stage a grand exhibition were thwarted by the far more popular ' General Tom Thumb'; to the contemporary writer whose book event is - disappointingly - empty. Creative disappointment, which often follows years of solitary work, is, Rachel feels, one of the worst kinds.

Rachel Cooke takes a wry look at artistic disappointment.

Rachel Cooke takes a wry and wide-ranging look at artistic disappointment, from a 19th-century artist upstaged by 'General Tom Thumb to empty book launches today.

In five Essays, Rachel Cooke (1969-2025) takes a wry and wide-ranging look at disappointment. She believes life is full of let downs, the 'twenty first century world seems expressly to set us up' for them. From a cup of coffee to new clothes, highly anticipated pleasures often prove to be an anti-climax.

In this episode, she takes a look at artistic disappointment from 19th century artist Benjamin Haydon, whose attempts to stage a grand exhibition were thwarted by the far more popular 'General Tom Thumb', to the contemporary writer whose book event is - disappointingly - empty. Creative disappointment, which often follows years of solitary work, is, Rachel feels, one of the worst kinds.

Rachel Cooke takes a look at the disappointments and let downs of the creative life.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Rachel Cooke looks at the disappointments of the creative life. Creative disappointment, which often follows years of solitary work, is, she feels, one of the worst kinds.

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Rachel Cooke takes a wry look at disappointment with food.

Food - so often highly anticipated and so often a little bit... disappointing. Rachel Cooke asks why.

Rachel Cooke reveals which food she considers to be the most disappointing. And in this essay she also recalls her extraordinary trip to a legendary Spanish restaurant; the taste of her grandmother's cakes, never to be re-created and asks why so few eagerly anticipated meals and treats live up to our high expectations.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Food - so often highly anticipated and so often a little bit... disappointing. Rachel Cooke asks why.

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The let downs and disappointments of romantic love, from the crushing experience of being stood up to the modern day equivalent - being left 'on read'. Taking in Sex in the City, that great chronicler of quiet heartbreak Anita Brookner and the paintings of Francis Danby, Rachel Cooke (1969-2025) surveys the perils and pitfalls of dating and argues that kissing a few frogs may not be such a bad thing after all.

This series of the Essay is being broadcast again to mark Rachel Cooke's death in November 2025.

Rachel Cooke looks at the let-downs and disappointments of love, and how to overcome them.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Rachel Cooke surveys the perils and pitfalls of dating and argues that kissing a few frogs may not be such a bad thing after all.

[LISTEN NOW]

Rachel Cooke takes a wry look at the let-downs and disappointments of love.

Rachel Cooke takes a wry, robust and wide-ranging look at the let-downs and disappointments of love, and how to overcome them.

The let downs and disappointments of romantic love, from the crushing experience of being stood up to the modern day equivalent - being left 'on read'. Taking in Sex in the City, that great chronicler of quiet heartbreak Anita Brookner and the paintings of Francis Danby, Rachel Cooke (1969-2025) surveys the perils and pitfalls of dating and argues that kissing a few frogs may not be such a bad thing after all.

Rachel Cooke looks at the let downs and disappointments of love, and how to overcome them.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Rachel Cooke surveys the perils and pitfalls of dating and argues that kissing a few frogs may not be such a bad thing after all.

[LISTEN NOW]

Rachel Cooke looks at why political ambition invariably turns to disappointment.

Rachel Cooke looks at why political ambition invariably turns to disappointment, in fiction and in the real world, including her own thwarted forays into politics as a student.

From the fictional worlds of Yes, Minister and Trollope's Palliser novels to the real-life experiences of politicians including Rory Stewart and Chris Mullin, Rachel Cooke looks at the disappointments which seem to be built into political life and affectionately recalls her own thwarted political efforts, during her student days.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

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Rachel Cooke takes a wry look at disappointing holidays, and how to avoid them.

With the help of writers including Geoff Dyer and Susan Sontag, Rachel Cooke asks what it is that makes the perfect holiday and whether unglamorous locations might be the answer.

Rachel Cooke confesses to being disappointed on what she thought was going to be the trip of a lifetime, and wonders if that says more about her or about the holiday. In this essay, with the help of writers including Geoff Dyer and Susan Sontag, Rachel asks what it is that makes the perfect holiday and whether unglamorous locations might be the answer.

Rachel Cooke takes a wry look at disappointing holidays, and how to avoid them.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

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