1895: Lady McCartney, wife of the British Consul in Chinese Turkestan, meets determined Swedish explorer Sven Hedin, intent on mapping the dangerous Taklimakan Desert.

The first of three plays by Ray Jenkins based on the diaries of Catherine, Lady McCartney, a British Consul wife based in one of the loneliest places on earth.

Stars Siobhan Redmond as Catherine McCartney, Alex Jennings as George McCartney, Steve Hodson as Sven Hedin, Stephen Critchlow as Islam Bai, David Allister as James Borland, Tessa Worsley as Mother and Harry Myers as Islam Akhum.

Director: Janet Whitaker

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1999. Show less