Charles Dickens died half way through writing "The Mystery of Edwin Drood", and ever since speculation has been rife as to how the tale might have unfolded. This title indicates how the great author might have finished this masterpiece, drawing from those leads a modern story of obsessive love, betrayal and murder.
Charles Dickens was born in Hampshire on February 7, 1812. His father was a clerk in the navy pay office, who was well paid but often ended up in financial troubles. When Dickens was twelve years old he was send to work in a shoe polish factory because his family had be taken to the debtors' prison.Fagin is named after a boy Dickens disliked at the factory. His career as a writer of fiction started in 1833 when his short stories and essays began to appear in periodicals. The Pickwick Papers, his first commercial success, was published in 1836. In the same year he married the daughter of his friend George Hogarth, Catherine Hogarth. The serialisation of Oliver Twist began in 1837 while The Pickwick Papers was still running. Many other novels followed and The Old Curiosity Shop brought Dickens international fame and he became a celebrity America as well as Britain. He separated from his wife in 1858. Charles Dickens died on 9 June 1870, leaving his last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, unfinished. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Gripping full-cast radio dramatisations of four of Charles Dickens' classic masterpieces Charles Dickens is one of the most renowned novelists of all time, and this final volume of the dramatised canon of his work includes some of his most complex and compelling novels.
A Tale of Two Cities Set during the French Revolution, this radio retelling of Dickens' powerful story of love, cruelty, violence and redemptionwon the 2012 Bronze Sony Award for Best Drama.
Great Expectations This classic tale explores the turbulent childhood of orphan Pip, his quest to find his true identity, and his growth to maturity through misfortune and misery.
Our Mutual Friend Charles Dickens' last complete novel is a sweeping satire of wealth and corruption, centred around London's great river Thames.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood In Dickens' unfinished masterpiece, the arrival in Cloisterham of Neville and Helena Landless, twins from Ceylon, sets in motion a chain of events which leads to murder.
With a star-studded cast including Robert Lindsay, Douglas Hodge, Geraldine McEwan, Amanda Redman, Alex Jennings and Ian Holm, these BBC radio adaptations are rich in drama, romance, suspense and tragedy.
Cast and credits Written by Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens..................................................................Robert Lindsay Jarvis Lorry..................................................................Jonathan Coy Miss Pross..................................................................Alison Steadman Lucie Manette..................................................................Lydia Wilson Dr Alexandre Manette..................................................................Karl Johnson Charles Darnay..................................................................Andrew Scott Sydney Carton..................................................................Paul Ready Ernest Defarge..................................................................James Lailey Theresa Defarge..................................................................Tracy Wiles Gaspard/Stryver..................................................................Simon Bubb Jerry Cruncher..................................................................Carl Prekopp Joe..................................................................Rikki Lawton Marquis St Evremonde..................................................................Clive Merrison Barsad..................................................................Gerard McDermott Other parts played by Adam Billington, Christopher Webster, Adjoa Andoh, Daniel Cooper, Paul Moriarty, Alex Rivers Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer Dramatised by Mike Walker Music by Lennert Busch Sound production by Anne Bunting First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26- 30 December 2011 Great Expectations Pip..................................................................Douglas Hodge Miss Havisham..................................................................Geraldine McEwan Estella..................................................................Amanda Redman Joe Gardgery..................................................................Jim Carter Mrs Joe..................................................................Maggie Steed Jaggers..................................................................John Shrapnel Wemmick..................................................................Timothy Bateson Herbert Pocket..................................................................James Simmons Magwitch..................................................................Robert Lang Uncle Pumblechook..................................................................Norman Jones Aged Parent..................................................................Michael Turner Biddy..................................................................Emma Gregory Bentley Drummle..................................................................Alan Barker Orlick..................................................................Brian Hewlett Other parts played by Fraser Kerr, Gary King, Mark Straker, Norman Jones, Polly Maberley, Terence Edmond, Timothy Carlton, Elizabeth Kelly, Henry Power, Jenny Howe, Auriol Smith, Brett Usher, James Greene, James Simmons, Joanna Myers, Timothy Alcock, Nigel Carrington, Ronald Herdman, Jane Whittenshaw, Stephen Garlick Directed by Sally Avens Dramatised by Ray Jenkins Music by Malcolm Clarke First broadcast BBC Radio 5 Live, 6 October-22 December 1991 Our Mutual Friend Charles Dickens..................................................................Alex Jennings Bella Wilfer..................................................................Daisy Haggard Lizzie Hexam..................................................................Lizzy Watts John Rokesmith..................................................................Carl Prekopp Eugene Wrayburn..................................................................Patrick Kennedy Mortimer Lightwood..................................................................Matt Addis Nicodemus Boffin..................................................................Jason Watkins Mrs Boffin..................................................................Pauline Quirke Pa Wilfer..................................................................Philip Fox Ma Wilfer..................................................................Annabelle Dowler Charlie Hexam..................................................................Adam Arnold Gaffer Hexam..................................................................Malcolm Tierney Silas Wegg..................................................................Lee Ross Aenus Venus..................................................................Stephen Hogan Rogue Riderhood..................................................................Jamie Foreman Other parts played by Paul Rider, Janice Acquah, Lynn Farleigh, Benjamin Askew, Neil Stuke, Nicola Miles-Wildin, Jonathan Tafler Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer Dramatised by Mike Walker Music by Roger Goula First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 November-4 December 2009 The Mystery of Edwin Drood John Jasper..................................................................Ian Holm Edwin Drood..................................................................Mark Payton The Reverend Crisparkle..................................................................Gareth Thomas Neville Landless..................................................................Simon Treves Helena Landless..................................................................Helena Breck Deputy..................................................................Susan Sheridan Princess Puffer..................................................................Mary Wimbush Miss Twinkleton..................................................................Margaret Courtenay Rosa Bud..................................................................Moir Leslie Grewgious..................................................................John Gabriel Bazzard..................................................................John Samson Durdles..................................................................Gordon Gostelow Jeweller..................................................................John Moffatt Joe..................................................................David Goudge Other parts played by Timothy Bateson, Anna Cropper, Marcia King, Michael Cochrane, Vincent Brimble, Timothy Alcock, Margot Boyd, David King, Burt Kwouk, Noriko Aida, Madeline Smith, Hilda Kriseman, Jo Kendall, Anne Jameson, Michael Graham Cox Directed by Gordon House Concluded by Leon Garfield Dramatised by David Buck Pianist: Nicholas Kok First broadcast BBC Radio 4/BBC World Service 2-30 March 1990 Duration: 21 hours 40 minutes approx.
