Melvyn Bragg has published seventeen novels since 1965, an achievement that would satisfy many writers. He has also published twelve nonfiction books, seven screenplays, and two stage plays. He has edited and contributed to other books and written literally hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles. He has written for the Daily Mail and the Evening Standard and is a regular writer and reviewer for The Guardian and The Observer.

These accomplishments would suggest that Bragg has had a full career as a modern man of letters, but in fact they represent only a small fraction of his professional life. Prolific writer though he is, Bragg is best known for his work in broadcasting, chiefly in British television, but also in radio. For forty years he has worked in the forefront of British arts broadcasting as a presenter, producer, editor, and writer. He is the preeminent figure in arts broadcasting...