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Season 3, Episode 4 16:14 running time

Heaven, Hell and Subterranean Homesick Blues

In this episode, medieval monks try to make a heaven-sent garden, drugs drag a writer to hell, and Bob Dylan creates a now-iconic short film

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Hosted by

Kate Reid

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Sound Editing

Will Jacob

Listen now:
  • Covent Garden, London

Gardening for God

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Written by

Sarah Fleming

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Performed by

Kate Reid

About this story

Writer Sarah Fleming imagines a 15th-Century monk given the task of tending Westminster Abbey’s land in Covent Garden.

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Learn more about this story’s themes with these links:


At MapofLondon, you can find Ralph Aggas (or Agas)’s 1562 map of London, and can highlight Covent Garden. British History has an article on early Covent Garden. The Gardens Trust has an article on medieval monastic gardens as does HealthyHildegard.

  • 4 York Place, London
  • Covent Garden, London

Tales of the Odious Opium Eater

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Written by

Zak Ghazi-Torbati

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Performed by

Stephen Fry

About this story

Essayist Thomas DeQuincey first takes laudanum - a form of opium - because of pain. He becomes addicted and in 1821 publishes the first ‘drug memoir’ in English literature. He’s not a happy - nor seemingly nice - man.

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Want to know more? Try starting here:


The National Portrait Gallery has several portraits of Thomas de Quincey. Project Gutenberg has a downloadable copy of de Quincey’s memoires for free. The Wellcome Collection has an article on Victorian drug use.

  • The Savoy Steps Strand, London

The Anthem of the Counterculture

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Written by

James Rampton

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Performed by

Robbie Stamp

About this story

In 1965, on a slow day, Bob Dylan, with the help of with entourage Joan Baez, Donovan, Bob Neuwirth, Allen Ginsberg and director DA Pennebaker, comes up with an ingenious bit of film to go with one of his songs…

Delve Deeper

If you like this story and want more information, here are some suggested links:


YouTube has Dylan’s iconic film of his song Subterranean Homesick Blues. IMDb has information on Pennebaker’s documentary of Dylan’s 1965 UK tour, Don’t Look Back. BobDylan.com has the lyrics for the song.