From the fog and squalor of Victorian London to the idyllic tranquillity of rural England, Dickens' tale of tragedy, intrigue and love, and stinging satire on the English legal system, is faithfully recreated in this BBC drama series. The story closely follows the characters involved in the infamous court case of Jarndyce versus Jarndyce that relies heavily on the production of an up-to-date will in order to settle the inheritance. Three young people are taken in by the generous guardian John Jarndyce to be cared for at Bleak House while they await the outcome of the court case. Meanwhile a ruthless lawyer is determined to find out the truth surrounding the Lady Dedlock's mysterious past and after deep investigation he makes a discovery that changes all their lives.
5 parts
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Thank you!
Thank you for posting this, I am looking forward to listening to it ......
Thank you so much, Rosanna, for this wonderful addition.
I've been looking for this ! Many thanks..
Thank you for all the time and trouble on bringing this production to the website.
You seem to be confusing this BBC Radio serial adaptation by John Dryden with the fifteen-part 2005 BBC TV production which was adapted by Andrew Davies (above cast photograph).
This audio production was first broadcast in 5 parts on BBC Radio 4 starting 29th November 1998. It had the unique feature that it was recorded on location out at Chiddinstone Castle in Kent (the castle had also used as the location for the James Ivory and Ismail Merchant film of A Room With A View in 1986):
http://chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/
The cast for this radio production included:
Michael Kitchen as John Jarndyce
Claire Price as Esther Summerson
Honeysuckle Weeks as Ada Clare
Robert POrtal as Richard Carstone
Daisy Beaumont as Lady Honoria Dedlock
Berwick Kaler as Inspector Bucket & Sir Lester Dedlock
Anton Lesser as Tulkinghorn
John Shrapnel as Kenge
Michael Fenton Stevens as Harold Skimpole
Rob Jarvis as Guppy
Danny Worters as Jo
Brendan O'Hea as Woodcourt
Michael Atwell as Krook & Jean Marsh as Miss Flyte
It was the winner of a Sony Award for Best Drama, and the Spoken Word Award for Best Production and Best Adaptation.
Dryden's version of Bleak House is an acclaimed classic serial:
“Only when you hear a production like this, in which different scenes have been recorded in different rooms, do you realise how monotonous is the acoustic used by most radio drama. It makes the story live in another dimension…” - David Sexton, Sunday Telegraph
“…quite extraordinary richness and complexity of sound, and a deep, dark, sinister, fog-soaked ambience. It is like looking at a Tintoretto after a succession of Constables…unprecedented depth…” - Paul Donovan, The Times
“John Dryden has pioneered in radio a kind of movie for the wireless, in which fast cutting, music and location recording are used to create pace and atmosphere…Outstanding production…Brilliant rethinking of the whole business of the classic serial…” - Mark Lawson, Radio Times
Bleak House 1-5.mp3
Bleak House 2-5.mp3
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