Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Her Marriage Lines | 20101005 | She is known now, almost exclusively, as a children's writer - the author of The Railway Children. But E. Nesbit was more than that: a pioneer Socialist, a campaigner for Women's Rights and a passionate social reformer. She was also a prolific poet and author of adult fiction. The stories in this series are taken from 'In Homespun', a collection that was originally published in 1896, and are set in the villages of South Kent and East Sussex that Nesbit knew well. Told in the first person, by a variety of strong, women characters- the sort of character E. Nesbit specialized in - looking back on their earlier lives. Their voices are robust and distinct. Here, by turns, are danger, comedy and romance. At stake? Marriage and money. Deft and atmospheric writing from a master story teller. Her Marriage Lines is a wonderfully comic detective story cum romance. Harry, the son of the house, wants to marry Poll, but the delightfully wicked old housekeeper has other ideas. When the Old Man dies unexpectedly, poison is suspected. But there is a surprising twist in the tale. Reader: Jenny Agutter Abridged by Roy Apps Producer/Director: Celia de Wolff A comic detective story with a touch of romance, by the author of The Railway Children. |
| 02 | The Bristol Bowl | 20101006 | Jane's aunt is a real ogre to work for, but Jane is after her money, so she puts up with it. Everything is going to plan, until the day Jane smashes The Bristol Bowl- aunt's prize bit of porcelain. That disaster takes her on her first trip to London and a very surprising offer of marriage. Reader: Jenny Agutter Abridged by Roy Apps Producer/Director: Celia de Wolff A comic tale of broken porcelain and a surprising offer of marriage. |
| 03 | Grandsire Triples | 20101007 | Kate's 'intended' comes back from learning farming, a Catholic. Kate is torn between duty and love, a conflict that is dramatically resolved when the two lovers inadvertently get locked in the bell tower, during a Grandsire Triple peal ('there's five thousand and fifty changes to 'em, and it's a matter of three hours!') groans Kate. Reader: Jenny Agutter Abridged by Roy Apps Producer/Director: Celia de Wolff Two lovers resolve their differences when accidentally locked in the church bell tower. |