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4. Lungs

Episode 4 of 5

A swim off the East African coast. The life of Maggie O’Farrell told through near-death experiences. Read by Hattie Morahan.

Hattie Morahan reads Maggie O'Farrell's startling memoir, in which the bestselling author recounts her life through a series of near-death experiences.

The book started out as a private project, a way for O'Farrell to help her daughter who suffers from a serious immunology disorder, including severe eczema and allergies that can cause anaphylactic shock: "I've asked myself, when she has been very ill, how do you carry on when death is a daily possibility?"

In this episode, O'Farrell and her young son come close to drowning while swimming off the coast of East Africa.

Reader: Hattie Morahan

Writer: Maggie O'Farrell

Abridger and producer Kirsteen Cameron

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2017.

15 minutes

On radio

Thu 23 Apr 202608:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

More episodes

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3. Abdomen

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5. Daughter

See all episodes from I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell

Credits

ReaderHattie Morahan
AuthorMaggie O'Farrell
AbridgerKirsteen Cameron
ProducerKirsteen Cameron

Broadcasts

  • Thu 24 Aug 201709:45
    BBC Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 25 Aug 201700:30
    BBC Radio 4
  • Thu 7 Jul 202214:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Fri 8 Jul 202202:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 23 Apr 202608:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 23 Apr 202613:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 23 Apr 202619:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Fri 24 Apr 202603:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra