Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Visit | 20230529 | Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. Penang, 1921: Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert are visited by Willie, an old friend of Robert's, known to the world as the great novelist Somerset Maugham. Willie is in an unhappy marriage, suddenly penniless and now struggling to write. But before he leaves to face his demons, Lesley finds herself confessing to him her innermost secrets, concerning a Chinese revolutionary and an Englishwoman accused of murder. What she tells him, could blow her marriage apart. Today: from Africa in 1947, Lesley looks back on the moment Willie arrived with his secretary, Gerald - a two-week visit that threatened to change all their lives. Writer: Tan Twan Eng is the author of the Man Booker-longlisted The Gift of Rain, and The Garden of Evening Mists, which won the Man Asian Literary Prize, 2012, and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Readers: Hattie Morahan + Julian Rhind-Tutt Abridger: Richard Hamilton A new novel set in 1920s Penang from the acclaimed author of The Garden of Evening Mists. Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire |
| 02 | Lovers | 20230530 | Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. Penang, 1921: Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert are visited by Willie, an old friend of Robert's, known to the world as the great novelist Somerset Maugham. Willie is in an unhappy marriage, suddenly penniless and now struggling to write. But before he leaves to face his demons, Lesley finds herself confessing to him her innermost secrets, concerning a Chinese revolutionary and an Englishwoman accused of murder. What she tells him, could blow her marriage apart. Today: Lesley is hit by the sudden realisation that her two new house guests are lovers.... Writer: Tan Twan Eng Readers: Hattie Morahan + Julian Rhind-Tutt Abridger: Richard Hamilton A new novel from the acclaimed author of The Garden of Evening Mists set in 1920s Penang. Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire |
| 03 | A Reckless Decision | 20230531 | Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. Penang, 1921: Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert are visited by Willie, an old friend of Robert's, known to the world as the great novelist Somerset Maugham. Willie is in an unhappy marriage, suddenly penniless and now struggling to write. But before he leaves to face his demons, Lesley finds herself confessing to him her innermost secrets, concerning a Chinese revolutionary and an Englishwoman accused of murder. What she tells him, could blow her marriage apart. Today: When Lesley starts to feel her past slipping away, she recklessly decides to tell Willie the story of what happened to her ten years before... Writer: Tan Twan Eng Readers: Hattie Morahan + Julian Rhind-Tutt Abridger: Richard Hamilton A new novel set in 1920s Penang, from the acclaimed author of The Garden of Evening Mists. Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire |
| 04 | Murder | 20230601 | Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. Penang, 1921: Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert are visited by Willie, an old friend of Robert's, known to the world as the great novelist Somerset Maugham. Willie is in an unhappy marriage, suddenly penniless and now struggling to write. But before he leaves to face his demons, Lesley finds herself confessing to him her innermost secrets, concerning a Chinese revolutionary and an Englishwoman accused of murder. What she tells him, could blow her marriage apart. Today: Lesley begins her story of what happened ten years ago - a story that begins with a murder... Writer: Tan Twan Eng Readers: Hattie Morahan and Julian Rhind-Tutt Abridger: Richard Hamilton The new novel from the author of The Garden of Evening Mists, set in Penang, 1921. Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire |
| 05 | The Inquest | 20230602 | Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. Penang, 1921: Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert are visited by Willie, an old friend of Robert's, known to the world as the great novelist Somerset Maugham. Willie is in an unhappy marriage, suddenly penniless and now struggling to write. But before he leaves to face his demons, Lesley finds herself confessing to him her innermost secrets, concerning a Chinese revolutionary and an Englishwoman accused of murder. What she tells him, could blow her marriage apart. Today: as Lesley's story of murder and adultery unfolds, Willie is certain she's holding something back about the Chines revolutionary... Writer: Tan Twan Eng Readers: Hattie Morahan and Julian Rhind-Tutt Abridger: Richard Hamilton A new novel set in 1920s Penang, from the author of The Garden of Evening Mists. Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire |
| 06 | The Letter | 20230605 | Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. Penang, 1921: Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert are visited by Willie, an old friend of Robert's, known to the world as the great novelist Somerset Maugham. Willie is in an unhappy marriage, suddenly penniless and now struggling to write. But before he leaves to face his demons, Lesley finds herself confessing to him her own story from ten years before - a story of revolution, adultery and murder. But what she tells the writer, who is himself struggling for inspiration, could blow her marriage apart. Today: Lesley's story continues with a shocking revelation about her husband's lover... Writer: Tan Twan Eng Readers: Hattie Morahan and Julian Rhind-Tutt Abridger: Richard Hamilton Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal set in 1920s Penang. Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire |
| 07 | A Sense Of Clarity | 20230606 | Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. Penang, 1921: Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert are visited by Willie, an old friend of Robert's, known to the world as the great novelist Somerset Maugham. Willie is in an unhappy marriage, suddenly penniless and now struggling to write. But before he leaves to face his demons, Lesley finds herself confessing to him her innermost secrets, concerning a Chinese revolutionary and an Englishwoman accused of murder. What she tells him, could blow her marriage apart. Today: Lesley continues her story, with a revelation about her own act of recklessness... Writer: Tan Twan Eng Readers: Hattie Morahan and Julian Rhind-Tutt Abridger: Richard Hamilton A new novel from the acclaimed author of The Garden of Evening Mists, set in 1920s Penang. Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire |
| 08 | The Trial | 20230607 | Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. Penang, 1921: Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert are visited by Willie, an old friend of Robert's, known to the world as the great novelist Somerset Maugham. Willie is in an unhappy marriage, suddenly penniless and now struggling to write. But before he leaves to face his demons, Lesley finds herself confessing to him her innermost secrets, concerning a Chinese revolutionary and an Englishwoman accused of murder. What she tells him, could blow her marriage apart. Today: Willie is spellbound as Lesley continues her story with a shocking account of Ethel Proudlock's trial for murder... Writer: Tan Twan Eng Readers: Hattie Morahan and Julian Rhind-Tutt Abridger: Richard Hamilton Producer: Justine Willett* The next in Tan Twan Eng's new novel set in 1920s Malaysia. Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire |
| 09 | Revolution | 20230608 | Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. Penang, 1921: Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert are visited by Willie, an old friend of Robert's, known to the world as the great novelist Somerset Maugham. Willie is in an unhappy marriage, suddenly penniless and now struggling to write. But before he leaves to face his demons, Lesley finds herself confessing to him her innermost secrets, concerning a Chinese revolutionary and an Englishwoman accused of murder. What she tells him, could blow her marriage apart. Today: Lesley's story comes to an end with revolution in China and an agonising decision from Arthur. But what will be the impact of her revelations? Writer: Tan Twan Eng Readers: Hattie Morahan and Julian Rhind-Tutt Abridger: Richard Hamilton A new novel from the author of The Garden of Evening Mists, set in 1920s Penang. Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire |
| 10 | Return | 20230609 | Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's new novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire. Penang, 1921: Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert are visited by Willie, an old friend of Robert's, known to the world as the great novelist Somerset Maugham. Willie is in an unhappy marriage, suddenly penniless and now struggling to write. But before he leaves to face his demons, Lesley finds herself confessing to him her innermost secrets, concerning a Chinese revolutionary and an Englishwoman accused of murder. What she tells him, could blow her marriage apart. Today: more than a quarter of a century on, and now living alone in South Africa, Lesley makes a joyous decision about her future... Writer: Tan Twan Eng Readers: Hattie Morahan and Julian Rhind-Tutt Abridger: Richard Hamilton The final part of Tan Twan Eng's haunting new novel set in 1920s Penang. Based on real events, Tan Twan Eng's novel of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire |