Eccentrics & Outsiders

from Arts & Ideas · host BBC Radio 4

How has the figure of the outsider or eccentric been used to explore English culture, history, politics, and our relationship with nature and the countryside? Matthew Sweet discusses, including a re-reading of Sylvia Townsend Warner's 1926 novel Lolly Willowes, in which a middle aged woman leaves her suburban life behind to become a witch. With philosopher Charles Foster, literary historian Jade Munslow Ong, political philosopher Sophie Scott Brown, and psychotherapist Mark Vernon. Producer: Luke Mulhall

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 19, 2026

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

NOW PLAYING

Eccentrics & Outsiders

0:00 56:52

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Arts & Ideas?

This episode is 56 minutes long.

When was this Arts & Ideas episode published?

This episode was published on June 19, 2026.

Can I download this Arts & Ideas episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!