Clarissa: The History of a Young Lady
by Samuel Richardson [1748]
Dramatised in four parts by Hattie Naylor
Directed by Marilyn Imrie.
A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4.
Broadcast 14th March to 4th April 2010, Classic Serial
Tragic tale of a heroine whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted.
Trivia: Based on one of the longest novels in the English language. At about one million words,ÕClarissaÕ is nearly twice as long as a translation of War and Peace.
160/44; 260 MB total; sound quality excellent
20100314 The Pursuit
The beautiful young heiress Clarissa Harlowe is dangerously attracted by the wiles of the notorious libertine Robert Lovelace. Threatened by an imminent marriage arranged with the odious suitor her family have found for her, Lovelace persuades Clarissa to flee with him.
Clarissa Harlowe ...... Zoe Waites
Robert Lovelace ...... Richard Armitage
James Harlowe ...... Oliver Milburn
Solmes ...... Stephen Critchlow
Bella Harlowe ...... Sophie Thompson
Lady Harlowe ...... Alison Steadman
Lord Harlowe ...... John Rowe
Mrs Norton ...... Deborah Findlay
Anna Howe ...... Cathy Sara
Part 1 of 4
Replies
20100404 Freedom Regained
Clarissa hopes for reconciliation with her family, while an unrepentant Lovelace seeks once again to find her and conquer her soul.
Part 4 of 4
Clarissa 4 Freedom Regained.mp3
Lovelace tricks Clarissa into returning to Mrs Sinclair's house of ill repute, and after she has been drugged, he has his way with her.
Mrs Moore ..... Deborah Findlay
Mrs Rawlings ..... Alison Steadman
Boy ..... Cathy Sara
Lady Betty ..... Sophie Thompson
Charlotte ..... Ellie Beaven
Part 3 of 4
Clarissa 3 Imprisonment.mp3
20100321 The Flight
Clarissa has been persuaded to flee with the notorious libertine Lovelace, escaping an arranged marriage. In London she begins to learn of the darker side of Lovelace's character as he secures her lodgings in a house of ill repute and begins to use lies, trickery and cruel delusions in an attempt to seduce her.
Mrs Sinclair ...... Miriam Margolyes
Dorcas ...... Lisa Hammond
Sally ...... Sophie Thompson
Belford ...... Adrian Scarborough
Tourville ...... Julian Rhind-Tutt
Captain Tomlinson ...... Stephen Critchlow
Part 2 of 4
Clarissa 2 The Flight.mp3