Henry James took as his inspiration for his tale The Aspern Papers the story of a mistress of Byron's who outlived the poet into lonely old age. He transposed the setting to Venice and cast the city he loved as a character in a taut narrative of literary theft and deception.

Episode 1

The lure of previously unseen papers relating to the long-dead poet Jeffrey Aspern brings one of his editors to Venice in the grip of an obsession. He must see them, he must have them; and he will lie and betray in order to do so.

Read by Samuel West.

Abridged and produced by Christine Hall. Show less