Episodes
Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
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01 | 20170403 | It's 1893. Newly widowed, Cora Seaborne and her young son, Francis, leave London and head for Colchester. Cora plans to look for fossils but is intrigued to hear about the myth of the Essex Serpent. Sarah Perry's award-winning novel set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. Moving between Essex and London, myth and modernity, Cora's spirited search for the Essex Serpent encourages all around her to test their allegiance to faith or reason in an age of rapid scientific advancement. At the same time, Sarah Perry's novel explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the allegiances that we have to one another. The depth of feeling that the inhabitants of Aldwinter share are matched by their city counterparts as they strive to find the courage to express and understand their deepest desires, and strongest fears. Abridged in ten episodes by Jeremy Osborne. Read by Ruth Gemmell. Producer: Rosalynd Ward A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017. Newly widowed Cora Seaborne and her young son Francis leave London for Colchester. Sarah Perry's novel, set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. |
02 | 20170404 | Rumours about the re-emergence of the Essex Serpent are circulating in Aldwinter. Cora has an unexpected encounter with a villager. Sarah Perry's award-winning novel set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. Moving between Essex and London, myth and modernity, Cora Seaborne's spirited search for the Essex Serpent encourages all around her to test their allegiance to faith or reason in an age of rapid scientific advancement. At the same time, the novel explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the allegiances that we have to one another. The depth of feeling that the inhabitants of Aldwinter share are matched by their city counterparts as they strive to find the courage to express and understand their deepest desires, and strongest fears. Read by Ruth Gemmell. Producer: Rosalynd Ward A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017. Cora has an unexpected encounter in the Essex countryside. Sarah Perry's novel, set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. |
03 | 20170405 | Cora, Francis and Martha visit the Essex village of Aldwinter and meet the local vicar, Will Ransome, and his delightful family. Sarah Perry's award-winning novel set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. Moving between Essex and London, myth and modernity, Cora Seaborne's spirited search for the Essex Serpent encourages all around her to test their allegiance to faith or reason in an age of rapid scientific advancement. At the same time, the novel explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the allegiances that we have to one another. The depth of feeling that the inhabitants of Aldwinter share are matched by their city counterparts as they strive to find the courage to express and understand their deepest desires, and strongest fears. Read by Ruth Gemmell. Producer: Rosalynd Ward A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017. Cora, Francis and Martha visit Aldwinter and meet the local vicar. Sarah Perry's novel, set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. |
04 | 20170406 | Will tries to dissuade his congregation from their belief in the existence of the Essex Serpent. Cora and her family move to Aldwinter where Cora's friendship with Will deepens. Sarah Perry's award-winning novel set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. Moving between Essex and London, myth and modernity, Cora Seaborne's spirited search for the Essex Serpent encourages all around her to test their allegiance to faith or reason in an age of rapid scientific advancement. At the same time, the novel explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the allegiances that we have to one another. The depth of feeling that the inhabitants of Aldwinter share are matched by their city counterparts as they strive to find the courage to express and understand their deepest desires, and strongest fears. Read by Ruth Gemmell. Producer: Rosalynd Ward A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017. Will tries to dissuade his flock from their belief in the existence of the Essex Serpent. Sarah Perry's novel, set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. |
05 | 20170407 | Cora is invited to give a talk to Joanna Ransome's class in Aldwinter school, which has unforeseen consequences for the girls. Sarah Perry's award-winning novel set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. Moving between Essex and London, myth and modernity, Cora Seaborne's spirited search for the Essex Serpent encourages all around her to test their allegiance to faith or reason in an age of rapid scientific advancement. At the same time, the novel explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the allegiances that we have to one another. The depth of feeling that the inhabitants of Aldwinter share are matched by their city counterparts as they strive to find the courage to express and understand their deepest desires, and strongest fears. Read by Ruth Gemmell. Producer: Rosalynd Ward A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017. Cora is invited to give a talk to Joanna Ransome's class in Aldwinter school. Sarah Perry's novel, set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. |
06 | 20170410 | Sarah Perry's award-winning novel, set at the end of the nineteenth century and inspired by true events. Moving between Essex and London, myth and modernity, Cora Seaborne's spirited search for the Essex Serpent encourages all around her to test their allegiance to faith or reason in an age of rapid scientific advancement. At the same time, the novel explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the allegiances that we have to one another. The depth of feeling that the inhabitants of Aldwinter share are matched by their city counterparts as they strive to find the courage to express and understand their deepest desires, and strongest fears. Cora seeks help from her London friend, Dr Luke Garrett. Her friendship with Will is tested. Meanwhile, the summer heat seems to banish all thoughts of the Essex Serpent. Sarah Perry was born in Essex in 1979. She has a PhD in creative writing at Royal Holloway which she completed under the supervision of Andrew Motion. She has been writer in residence at the Gladstone Library and is the winner of a Shiva Naipaul award for travel writing. Her first novel, After Me Comes The Flood won the East Anglian Book of the Year Award in 2014. The Essex Serpent was Waterstone's Book Of The Year in 2016 and was short-listed for the Costa Novel Award 2016. She lives in Norwich. Writer: Sarah Perry Reader: Ruth Gemmell Producer: Rosalynd Ward A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017. Sarah Perry's novel, set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. |
07 | 20170411 | Sarah Perry's award-winning novel, set at the end of the nineteenth century and inspired by true events. Moving between Essex and London, myth and modernity, Cora Seaborne's spirited search for the Essex Serpent encourages all around her to test their allegiance to faith or reason in an age of rapid scientific advancement. At the same time, the novel explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the allegiances that we have to one another. The depth of feeling that the inhabitants of Aldwinter share are matched by their city counterparts as they strive to find the courage to express and understand their deepest desires, and strongest fears. Cora hosts a midsummer party at her Aldwinter house. Her connection with Will deepens. Stella Ransome's mysterious illness gets worse, prompting a visit to London with her husband. Sarah Perry was born in Essex in 1979. She has a PhD in creative writing at Royal Holloway which she completed under the supervision of Andrew Motion. She has been writer in residence at the Gladstone Library and is the winner of a Shiva Naipaul award for travel writing. Her first novel, After Me Comes The Flood won the East Anglian Book of the Year Award in 2014. The Essex Serpent was Waterstone's Book Of The Year in 2016 and was short-listed for the Costa Novel Award 2016. She lives in Norwich. Writer: Sarah Perry Reader: Ruth Gemmell Producer: Rosalynd Ward A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017. Cora hosts a midsummer party at her Aldwinter house as Stella's mysterious illness worsens Sarah Perry's novel, set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. |
08 | 20170412 | Sarah Perry's award-winning novel, set at the end of the nineteenth century and inspired by true events. Moving between Essex and London, myth and modernity, Cora Seaborne's spirited search for the Essex Serpent encourages all around her to test their allegiance to faith or reason in an age of rapid scientific advancement. At the same time, the novel explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the allegiances that we have to one another. The depth of feeling that the inhabitants of Aldwinter share are matched by their city counterparts as they strive to find the courage to express and understand their deepest desires, and strongest fears. In Aldwinter, the mystery of the Essex Serpent appears to be solved. But there is shocking news from London for Cora. Sarah Perry was born in Essex in 1979. She has a PhD in creative writing at Royal Holloway which she completed under the supervision of Andrew Motion. She has been writer in residence at the Gladstone Library and is the winner of a Shiva Naipaul award for travel writing. Her first novel, After Me Comes The Flood won the East Anglian Book of the Year Award in 2014. The Essex Serpent was Waterstone's Book Of The Year in 2016 and was short-listed for the Costa Novel Award 2016. She lives in Norwich. Writer: Sarah Perry Reader: Ruth Gemmell Producer: Rosalynd Ward A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017. Sarah Perry's novel, set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. |
09 | 20170413 | Sarah Perry's award-winning novel, set at the end of the nineteenth century and inspired by true events. Moving between Essex and London, myth and modernity, Cora Seaborne's spirited search for the Essex Serpent encourages all around her to test their allegiance to faith or reason in an age of rapid scientific advancement. At the same time, the novel explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the allegiances that we have to one another. The depth of feeling that the inhabitants of Aldwinter share are matched by their city counterparts as they strive to find the courage to express and understand their deepest desires, and strongest fears. Cora and Will resume their deep friendship. Stella Ransome enlists the young Francis Seaborne's help with a secret project. Sarah Perry was born in Essex in 1979. She has a PhD in creative writing at Royal Holloway which she completed under the supervision of Andrew Motion. She has been writer in residence at the Gladstone Library and is the winner of a Shiva Naipaul award for travel writing. Her first novel, After Me Comes The Flood won the East Anglian Book of the Year Award in 2014. The Essex Serpent was Waterstone's Book Of The Year in 2016 and was short-listed for the Costa Novel Award 2016. She lives in Norwich. Writer: Sarah Perry Reader: Ruth Gemmell Producer: Rosalynd Ward A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017. Cora and Will resume their deep friendship and Stella enlists Francis's help. Sarah Perry's novel, set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. |
10 | 20170414 | Sarah Perry's award-winning novel set at the end of the nineteenth century and inspired by true events. Moving between Essex and London, myth and modernity, Cora Seaborne's spirited search for the Essex Serpent encourages all around her to test their allegiance to faith or reason in an age of rapid scientific advancement. At the same time, the novel explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the allegiances that we have to one another. The depth of feeling that the inhabitants of Aldwinter share are matched by their city counterparts as they strive to find the courage to express and understand their deepest desires, and strongest fears. The villagers confront the myth of the Essex Serpent for the last time. Cora and Will are forced to re-examine their relationship and their future. Sarah Perry was born in Essex in 1979. She has a PhD in creative writing at Royal Holloway which she completed under the supervision of Andrew Motion. She has been writer in residence at the Gladstone Library and is the winner of a Shiva Naipaul award for travel writing. Her first novel, After Me Comes The Flood won the East Anglian Book of the Year Award in 2014. The Essex Serpent was Waterstone's Book Of The Year in 2016 and was short-listed for the Costa Novel Award 2016. She lives in Norwich. Writer: Sarah Perry Reader: Ruth Gemmell Producer: Rosalynd Ward A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2017. Sarah Perry's novel, set at the end of the 19th century and inspired by true events. |