Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20130715 | Written by Zora Neale Hurston When Janie is caught kissing shiftless Johnny Taylor, her grandmother swiftly marries her off to an old man with sixty acres. She endures two stifling marriages before she meets the man of her dreams, who offers not diamonds, but a packet of flowering seeds. This African-American classic was first published in the 1930s and is seen as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black town in America. Nearly every black female writer of significance - including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker - acknowledges Zora Neale Hurston as her literary foremother. A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive.' Zadie Smith Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. A 1930s African-American classic, which tells Janie's story in dazzling Southern prose. |
| 02 | 20130716 | Written by Zora Neale Hurston Episode 2 To Janie's horror, Nanny is determined to marry her off to the widower Logan Killicks, to protect her honour. But Janie isn't interested in his sixty acres. At sixteen years old, she has dreams of 'kissing bees singing of the beginning of the world.' And to her, Logan Killicks looks like 'some ole skull head in de grave yard. This African-American classic was first published in the 1930s and is seen as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black town in America. Nearly every black female writer of significance - including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker - acknowledges Zora Neale Hurston as her literary foremother. A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive.' Zadie Smith Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. To Janie's horror, Nanny is determined to marry her off to the widower Logan Killicks. |
| 03 | 20130717 | Written by Zora Neale Hurston Episode 3 One day Janie is cutting potatoes in the yard when a citified, stylishly dressed man stops by. And, while her husband has stopped talking to her in rhymes, Joe Starks has dreams of being a big voice and Janie is just the sort of woman he would like by his side when he arrives at the first all-black town in Florida. This African-American classic was first published in the 1930s and is seen as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black town in America. Nearly every black female writer of significance - including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker - acknowledges Zora Neale Hurston as her literary foremother. A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive.' Zadie Smith Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. Janie is cutting potatoes in the yard, when a citified stylishly-dressed man stops by. |
| 04 | 20130718 | Written by Zora Neale Hurston Episode 4 Joe Starks has become Mayor of Eatonville, America's first all black town. While he goes off to his meetings, Janie - who is now his wife - is left in charge of the new store. But if Joe is revelling in his new found status, Janie is longing to be allowed to sit on the porch with all the other townsfolk and enjoy swapping stories. This African-American classic was first published in the 1930s and is seen as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black town in America. Nearly every black female writer of significance - including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker - acknowledges Zora Neale Hurston as her literary foremother. A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive.' Zadie Smith Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. Joe Starks has become Mayor of Eatonville, and Janie is now the mayor's wife. |
| 05 | 20130719 | Written by Zora Neale Hurston Episode 5 Now Joe is Mayor of Eatonville he doesn't want his wife mixing with the ordinary townsfolk - to Janie's frustration. And when she ventures to make her feelings known, he starts to criticise her. This African-American classic was first published in the 1930s and is seen as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black town in America. Nearly every black female writer of significance - including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker - acknowledges Zora Neale Hurston as her literary foremother. A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive.' Zadie Smith Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. |
| 06 | 20130722 | THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD by Zora Neale Hurston Episode 6 Janie has noticed that Joe is getting older but the older he gets the more he criticises her for being middle aged. Then one day she turns on him in front of the customers in the store and the pride of the Mayor of Eatonville is irrevocably damaged. Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4 A 1930s African-American classic which tells Janie's story in dazzling Southern prose This African-American classic was first published in the 1930s and is seen as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black town in America. Nearly every black woman writer of significance, including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, acknowledges Zora Neale Hurston as her literary foremother. A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive.' Zadie Smith. Janie and Joe have hit middle age, and the cracks in their relationship are growing. |
| 07 | 20130723 | THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD by Zora Neale Hurston Episode 7 Mayor Joe Starks has died. At the funeral Janie 'starched and ironed her face behind her veil.' Later as she emerges into her mourning white she has a host of admirers in and out of town but she's too busy basking in her new found freedom to take any notice. Then one day a newcomer comes into the store Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4 A 1930s African-American classic which tells Janie's story in dazzling Southern prose. This African-American classic was first published in the 1930s and is seen as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black town in America. Nearly every black woman writer of significance, including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, acknowledges Zora Neale Hurston as her literary foremother. A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive.' Zadie Smith. Now widowed, Janie maintains a mournful air, while basking in her new-found freedom. |
| 08 | 20130724 | THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD by Zora Neale Hurston Episode 8 For the first time in her life Janie has fallen in love and she tells her friend Phoeby that she is selling up the store and leaving Eatonville to 'go and live in Tea Cake's way.' But Tea Cake has no money and Janie is a wealthy widow some years his senior, so the tongues start to wag. Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4 A 1930s African-American classic which tells Janie's story in dazzling Southern prose This African-American classic was first published in the 1930s and is seen as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black town in America. Nearly every black woman writer of significance, including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, acknowledges Zora Neale Hurston as her literary foremother. A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive.' Zadie Smith. Janie has fallen in love and is selling up the store to 'go and live in Tea Cake's way'. |
| 09 | 20130725 | THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD by Zora Neale Hurston Episode 9 Newly married to Tea Cake, Janie is truly happy living and working with him on 'the muck' in the Everglades. And in the evenings their homestead is the centre of all that's going on. Then one night there is a threat that the hurricane is coming. Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4 A 1930s African-American classic which tells Janie's story in dazzling Southern prose This African-American classic was first published in the 1930s and is seen as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black town in America. Nearly every black woman writer of significance, including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, acknowledges Zora Neale Hurston as her literary foremother. A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive.' Zadie Smith. Newly married to Tea Cake, Janie is truly happy, working on 'the muck' in the Everglades. |
| 10 | 20130726 | THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD by Zora Neale Hurston Episode 10 A hurricane has hit the Everglades and the lake has breached its banks. When Janie got into trouble escaping the floods, Tea Cake came to her aid but he was bitten by a mad dog. Now safely back home he has become ill and Janie has gone to fetch the doctor. Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4 A 1930s African-American classic which tells Janie's story in dazzling Southern prose This African-American classic was first published in the 1930s and is seen as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. The author, Zora Neale Hurston, grew up in Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated black town in America. Nearly every black woman writer of significance, including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, acknowledges Zora Neale Hurston as her literary foremother. A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive.' Zadie Smith. When Janie and Tea Cake were escaping the floods Tea Cake was bitten by a mad dog. |