Darwin, Livingstone, Disraeli, Walter Scott, Byron papers to be released [audio 15min]

One of the most extraordinary literary archives in the world is about to be revealed to the public. The John Murray publishing house saved more than 150,000 documents, manuscripts and letters from writers including Walter Scott, Disraeli, Darwin and Livingstone. Biographer Vanessa Collingridge discovers how these great writers would meet at Murray's home each day, forming a group they called The 4 O'Clock Friends. In 1st of 5 weekly parts, she discovers how Byron's memoirs were burned in John Murray's fireplace, and how this priceless collection of literary papers was found in an old linen press.