Harold Nicolson, John Reith, and censorship at the BBC in 1931

In 1931, diplomat, critic and journalist Harold Nicolson set out to broadcast twelve radio talks on modern literature at the BBC. Radio talks of this nature were very much part of Director-General John Reith’s attempt to educate the nation. But when Nicolson attempted to talk about James Joyce’s banned novel Ulysses, the BBC took issue and Nicolson’s talk was seemingly censored. Behind this very public controversy, Nicolson’s diaries and the BBC’s internal records document an intriguing debate: how did John Reith’s cultural programme develop at the microphone, and just what could one say on the radio in 1931?

Charlie Dawkins is writing his doctoral thesis on modernism in mainstream British literary magazines.

Feel free to bring your lunch. The talk will last about half an hour, to allow time for questions and discussion afterwards, and a closer look at some of the Balliol special collections material discussed.