The War of Nerves by Martin Sixsmith (R4 Book of the week)

[kernelbogey]

I fell across this late night broadcast by chance; and find its rehearsal of the attitudes to nuclear war prevalent during my chidhood and teens fascinating. As I have posted before on the forum, the Cuban Missile Crisis remains a vivid memory.

The book is well written said to be deeply researched.

It is well read by Jonathan Keeble; unfortunately the Loftus Media production by Jane Greenwood has him read portions of the text in unsubtle funny accents: the Russian submarine commander's testimony in a Central Casting Russky accent; even US Government documents in a dodgy actory American. I'm not a regular listener to Book of the Week but I have heard this practice in other productions and find it unnecesary, profoundly silly and irritating.

[ardcarp]

I came across this, also by chance:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0019455

It's in a series of shorties on Radio 4, and gives the history of nuclear awakening (in this case particularly the US tests on Bikini Atoll). The main thrust of the programme is how we and the super-powers have changed our attitudes to the nuclear threat over the decades.

[Frances_iom]

... has him read portions of the text in unsubtle funny accents: ...

I suspect it is because the Beeb assumes listeners are only half listening whilst doing other tasks - the use of distinct, tho stereotyped, voices probably eases the task of comprehension. However the program is in itself excellent in its coverage of many key points of the postwar armed truce between two competing systems - which has now entered into very dangerous hostilities.

[ardcarp]

It was the last episode of Martin Sixsmith’s War of Merves today. Brilliant in my opinion, giving some basis for Russia’s current attitude to the West (though not condoning Purin’s brutality of course). I don’t mind the faux accents...they act as speech marks on the radio. Essential listening IMHO.