The Great Jowett Explained

The Great Jowett was a BBC radio play written by Graham Greene.^[1] First broadcast on Saturday 6 May 1939, it was produced and narrated by Stephen Potter.^[2] The play chronicles the life of an Oxford don, Benjamin Jowett during the 19th century and his struggles to be a Master for a college whilst translating Plato.^[3]

Characters

• Commentator
• Mr Griggs - Oxford Guide
• Mr Foster - head porter of Balliol
• Benjamin Jowett
• Matthew Knight - his servant
• Arthur Stanley
• Green, Peel, Ross and Smith - fellows of Balliol
• The Vice Chancellor
• Paine and Plumer - Undergraduates
• Algernon Swinburne
• Dr Scott - Master of Balliol
• Mrs Sparks - a Landlady
• Archbishop of Canterbury
• Matthew Arnold
• Miss Knight - Jowett's housekeeper

Notes and References

1. Web site: The great Jowett. Graham. Greene. December 6, 1981. Bodley Head. National Library of Australia (new catalog).
2. Web site: BBC Programme Index. genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
3. Book: Greene, Graham. The Collected Plays of Graham Greene. 1985. Penguin. 330.