The Great Jowett

Last updated September 17, 2025

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

References

↑ Greene, Graham (6 December 1981). "The great Jowett". Bodley Head – via National Library of Australia (new catalog).
↑ "BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
↑ Greene, Graham (1985). The Collected Plays of Graham Greene. Penguin. p. 330.

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[1] Greene, Graham (6 December 1981). "The great Jowett". Bodley Head – via National Library of Australia (new catalog).

[2] "BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.

[3] Greene, Graham (1985). The Collected Plays of Graham Greene. Penguin. p. 330.

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