Sir Isaiah Berlin

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is philosopher and historian Sir Isaiah Berlin. Born in Latvia 80 years ago, he was brought to England by his family when he was ten years old and barely able to speak English. He is now internationally regarded as one of the most brilliant scholars of his age.

He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his early years in Russia, his commitment to, and respect for, this country, and explaining the philosophical implications of liberalism - his guiding principle for 60 years.

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

Favourite track: String Quartet in C Sharp Minor Op 131 by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Works, prose and verse by Aleksandr Pushkin Luxury: Large armchair stacked with cushions