Vesper Flights By Helen Macdonald

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Tekels Park

20200824

20240930 (BBC7)
20241001 (BBC7)

Helen Macdonald reads from her new collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us.

Vesper Flights is the hotly anticipated essay collection by Helen Macdonald - her first book since the publication of her award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world and they celebrate its `quality of wonder'.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

Helen Macdonald's collection of essays about our relationship to the natural world.

Helen Macdonald reads from her collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us.

In this episode, she reflects on the changing landscape of her childhood home.

This is a hotly anticipated essay collection - Helen's first book since the publication of her award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk.

Each essay by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world and they celebrate its “quality of wonder'.

Abridged in five parts by Julian Wilkinson.

Producer: Elizabeth Allard.

The changing landscape of her childhood home – Helen reads from an essay on our relationship to the natural world. From 2020.

High Rise

20200825

20241001 (BBC7)
20241002 (BBC7)

Helen Macdonald reads from her new essay collection. Today, she is on the observation deck at the Empire State Building, and more than a thousand feet up she finds that the skies are 'teeming with unexpected biological abundance.

Vesper Flights is Helen Macdonald's first book since the publication of the award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay in this collection by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world, and celebrate it in all its wonder.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

Helen Macdonald views an aerial phenomenon from the Empire State Building.

Helen Macdonald reads from her collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us.

In this episode, she is on the observation deck at the Empire State Building, and more than a thousand feet up she finds that the skies are 'teeming with unexpected biological abundance.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson.

Produced by Elizabeth Allard.

An aerial phenomenon from the top of the Empire State Building - Helen reads her essay on the natural world. From 2020.

Eclipse

20200826

20241002 (BBC7)
20241003 (BBC7)

Helen Macdonald reads from her new essay collection which explores the wonders to be found in the natural world.. Today, she considers crowds, community and the overwhelming experience of witnessing an eclipse.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

Helen Macdonald on crowds, community and the experience of witnessing an eclipse.

Helen Macdonald reads from her collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us.

In this episode, Helen considers crowds, community and the overwhelming experience of witnessing an eclipse.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson.

Produced by Elizabeth Allard.

Crowds, community and the overwhelming experience of an eclipse - Helen reads her essay on the natural world. From 2020.

Wicken And In Spight Of Prisons

20200827

20241003 (BBC7)
20241004 (BBC7)

Helen Macdonald reads from her new essay collection on nature in all its wonder. Today's themes are nature reserves and our precious relationship with the natural world.

Vesper Flights is Helen Macdonald's first book since the publication of the award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay in this collection by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the planet, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

Helen Macdonald on nature reserves and our precious relationship with the natural world.

Helen Macdonald reads from her collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us.

In this episode - nature reserves and our precious relationship with the natural world.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson.

Produced by Elizabeth Allard.

Nature reserves and our precious relationship with the natural world - Helen reads from her essay collection. From 2020.

05 LAST

Vesper Flights

20200828

20241004 (BBC7)
20241005 (BBC7)

Helen Macdonald reads from her eagerly awaited new essay collection. Today, she considers swifts, finding them 'magical in the manner of all things that exist just a little beyond understanding.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson

Helen Macdonald celebrates and learns life lessons from swifts.

Helen Macdonald reads from her collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us.

In this episode, swifts - finding them 'magical in the manner of all things that exist just a little beyond understanding.

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson.

Produced by Elizabeth Allard.

Celebrating and learning invaluable life lessons from swifts - Helen reads her essay collection on the natural world. From 2020.

OMNI

20241006

20241007 (BBC7)

Helen Macdonald reads six essays from her collection about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us.

Published in 2020, ‘Vesper Flights' is a 42-strong essay collection by writer, poet, naturalist and historian of science, Helen Macdonald. It followed-on from her award-winning and best-selling ‘H is for Hawk', published in 2014.

Each essay explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world and they celebrate its 'quality of wonder'. The six essays featured here are:

Tekels Park

High Rise

Eclipse

Wicken

In Spight of Prisons

Abridged by Julian Wilkinson.

Producer: Elizabeth Allard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2020.

Helen Macdonald's reads six essays about her passion and concerns for the natural world.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Tekels Park	20200824	20240930 (BBC7) 20241001 (BBC7)	Helen Macdonald reads from her new collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us. Vesper Flights is the hotly anticipated essay collection by Helen Macdonald - her first book since the publication of her award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world and they celebrate its `quality of wonder'. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson Helen Macdonald's collection of essays about our relationship to the natural world. Helen Macdonald reads from her collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us. In this episode, she reflects on the changing landscape of her childhood home. This is a hotly anticipated essay collection - Helen's first book since the publication of her award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world and they celebrate its “quality of wonder'. Abridged in five parts by Julian Wilkinson. Producer: Elizabeth Allard. The changing landscape of her childhood home – Helen reads from an essay on our relationship to the natural world. From 2020.
02	High Rise	20200825	20241001 (BBC7) 20241002 (BBC7)	Helen Macdonald reads from her new essay collection. Today, she is on the observation deck at the Empire State Building, and more than a thousand feet up she finds that the skies are 'teeming with unexpected biological abundance. Vesper Flights is Helen Macdonald's first book since the publication of the award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay in this collection by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world, and celebrate it in all its wonder. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson Helen Macdonald views an aerial phenomenon from the Empire State Building. Helen Macdonald reads from her collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us. In this episode, she is on the observation deck at the Empire State Building, and more than a thousand feet up she finds that the skies are 'teeming with unexpected biological abundance. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson. Produced by Elizabeth Allard. An aerial phenomenon from the top of the Empire State Building - Helen reads her essay on the natural world. From 2020.
03	Eclipse	20200826	20241002 (BBC7) 20241003 (BBC7)	Helen Macdonald reads from her new essay collection which explores the wonders to be found in the natural world.. Today, she considers crowds, community and the overwhelming experience of witnessing an eclipse. Vesper Flights is Helen Macdonald's first book since the publication of the award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay in this collection by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson Helen Macdonald on crowds, community and the experience of witnessing an eclipse. Helen Macdonald reads from her collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us. In this episode, Helen considers crowds, community and the overwhelming experience of witnessing an eclipse. Vesper Flights is the hotly anticipated essay collection by Helen Macdonald - her first book since the publication of her award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world and they celebrate its “quality of wonder'. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson. Produced by Elizabeth Allard. Crowds, community and the overwhelming experience of an eclipse - Helen reads her essay on the natural world. From 2020.
04	Wicken And In Spight Of Prisons	20200827	20241003 (BBC7) 20241004 (BBC7)	Helen Macdonald reads from her new essay collection on nature in all its wonder. Today's themes are nature reserves and our precious relationship with the natural world. Vesper Flights is Helen Macdonald's first book since the publication of the award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay in this collection by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the planet, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson Helen Macdonald on nature reserves and our precious relationship with the natural world. Helen Macdonald reads from her collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us. In this episode - nature reserves and our precious relationship with the natural world. Vesper Flights is the hotly anticipated essay collection by Helen Macdonald - her first book since the publication of her award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world and they celebrate its “quality of wonder'. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson. Produced by Elizabeth Allard. Nature reserves and our precious relationship with the natural world - Helen reads from her essay collection. From 2020.
05 LAST	Vesper Flights	20200828	20241004 (BBC7) 20241005 (BBC7)	Helen Macdonald reads from her eagerly awaited new essay collection. Today, she considers swifts, finding them 'magical in the manner of all things that exist just a little beyond understanding. Vesper Flights is Helen Macdonald's first book since the publication of the award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay in this collection by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world, and celebrate it in all its wonder. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson Helen Macdonald celebrates and learns life lessons from swifts. Helen Macdonald reads from her collection of essays about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us. In this episode, swifts - finding them 'magical in the manner of all things that exist just a little beyond understanding. Vesper Flights is the hotly anticipated essay collection by Helen Macdonald - her first book since the publication of her award-winning and best-selling H is for Hawk. Each essay by the acclaimed nature writer explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world and they celebrate its “quality of wonder'. Abridged by Julian Wilkinson. Produced by Elizabeth Allard. Celebrating and learning invaluable life lessons from swifts - Helen reads her essay collection on the natural world. From 2020.
OMNI		20241006	20241007 (BBC7)	Helen Macdonald reads six essays from her collection about 'love for the glittering world of non-human life around us. Published in 2020, ‘Vesper Flights' is a 42-strong essay collection by writer, poet, naturalist and historian of science, Helen Macdonald. It followed-on from her award-winning and best-selling ‘H is for Hawk', published in 2014. Each essay explores humanity's connection with the natural world, our curiosity about it and our love for it, as well as its increasingly urgent fragility. The essays are also a reminder that we inhabit a beautiful world and they celebrate its 'quality of wonder'. The six essays featured here are: Tekels Park High Rise Eclipse Wicken In Spight of Prisons Abridged by Julian Wilkinson. Producer: Elizabeth Allard First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2020. Helen Macdonald's reads six essays about her passion and concerns for the natural world.