Main content

Fleur Cowles

Roy Plomley's castaway is painter Fleur Cowles.

Fleur Cowles began her career as a columnist on one of the New York papers and before long she became the Associate Editor of the magazine Look. She became very influential and, in 1953, President Eisenhower asked her to be his personal ambassador to the UK for the Coronation. Before long, she made her home here and took up writing books and painting professionally. She has since had 34 exhibitions of her work.

In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her fascinating life and chooses the eight records she would take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Promenade & Tulleries by Modest Mussorgsky
Book: Blank paper
Luxury: Painting materials

Available now

55 minutes

Last on

Fri 24 Jun 1983 09:05

Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Modest Mussorgsky

      Promenade & Tuileries (from Pictures at an Exhibition)

      Soloist: Gina Bachauer

      • Pictures At An Exhibition.
  • Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly

    True Love

    • High Society.
  • Victor Valencia

    Dolencias

    • TV Series The Flight Of The Condor.
  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Carnival of the Animals

    Soloist: Cyril Smith, Phyllis Sellick

    • Carnival Of The Animals.
  • Enrique Granados

    Andaluza (Dance No. 5) (from Danzas espa帽olas)

    Soloist: Andres Segovia

    • andaluza.
  • The Girl From Ipanema

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Sola, perduta, abbandonata (from Manon Lescaut)

    Soloist: Bartoletti Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Manon Lescaut Act 4.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Psalm 131

    Choir: The Camerata Singers Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Orchestra

  • Book Choice

    • Blank paper

  • Luxury Choice

    • Painting materials

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Roy Plomley
Interviewed Guest Fleur Cowles

Broadcasts

  • Sat 18 Jun 1983 18:25
  • Fri 24 Jun 1983 09:05

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast