Edwin Reardon is a serious novelist striving for recognition in a literary world that's dumbing rapidly down.

His younger, confident friend Jasper Milvain believes the only purpose of writing is to make big bucks. Neither approach has brought them much success.

BBC Radio 4's Ed Reardon and Jaz Milvain are loosely based on characters from George Gissing's Victorian novel.

Starring Christopher Douglas and Henry Lloyd-Hughes

Dramatised in two-parts by Christopher Douglas.

George Gissing ...... Christopher Douglas
Jasper Milvain ...... Henry Lloyd-Hughes
Edwin Reardon ...... Sam Alexander
Amy/Edith ...... Emily Pithon
Marian Yule ...... Olivia Hallinan
Alfred Yule/Quarmby ...... Jonathan Keeble
Dora Milvain/Maid ...... Victoria Brazier

Director: Gary Brown

Free schooling, which followed the Education Act of 1807 helped to create a newly literate working class. This created a demand for popular fiction and sensational journalism. Thus a gulf opened up between 'Literature' and the mass market as embodied by writers Edwin Reardon and Jasper Milvain.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2016. Show less