Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Origins Of An Obsession | 20130519 | 20130525 (R4) | Episode 1 (of 2): The Origins of an Obsession English crime novelist Charles Latimer is holidaying in Istanbul when he first hears of the mysterious Dimitrios - an infamous master criminal long wanted by the law, whose body has just been fished out of the Bosphorus. Fascinated by the story, Latimer decides to retrace his steps across Europe and gather material for a new book. Fascination tips over into obsession as he gradually discovers more about his subject's shadowy history - involving murder, prostitution, political assassination, drug-dealing and espionage. The Mask of Dimitrios was written in 1939 by Eric Ambler, a key figure in the evolution of the crime thriller who brought realism and political awareness to the genre and influenced writers such as Graham Greene and John le Carr退. By using the criminal career of Dimitrios as a lens, it enables us to see the dark heart of Europe, a continent riven by violence and corruption. Its demonstration that the pursuit of money is the well-spring from which all other evils flow is as pertinent as ever - and its cast of drug dealers, shady businessmen and displaced refugees makes it seem astonishingly modern. Dramatised by Stephen Sheridan Original music by Neil Brand Director: David Blount A Pier production for BBC Radio 4. Istanbul, 1938. A writer becomes obsessed with the life of an infamous master criminal. |
| 02 | The House Of The Eight Angels | 20130526 | 20130601 (R4) | Episode 2 (of 2): The House of Eight Angels English crime writer, Charles Latimer's growing obsession with the career of infamous master criminal, Dimitrios Makropoulos, takes him to Geneva where he learns of Dimitrios' exploits as a spy, and on to Paris where, in the company of the eccentric Mr Peters, he finds his own life under very real threat. The Mask of Dimitrios was written in 1939 by Eric Ambler, a key figure in the evolution of the crime thriller who brought realism and political awareness to the genre and influenced writers such as Graham Greene and John le Carr退. By using the criminal career of Dimitrios as a lens, it enables us to see the dark heart of Europe, a continent riven by violence and corruption. Its demonstration that the pursuit of money is the well-spring from which all other evils flow is as pertinent as ever - and its cast of drug dealers, shady businessmen and displaced refugees makes it seem astonishingly modern. Dramatised by Stephen Sheridan Original music by Neil Brand Director: David Blount A Pier production for BBC Radio 4. Latimer's growing obsession with master criminal Dimitrios takes him to Geneva and Paris. |