Janet Suzman introduces a dramatisation of Primo Levi's short stories about our human relationship with the chemical elements that make up our universe - a book the Royal Institution of Great Britain named 'the best science book ever'. Starring Henry Goodman, Akbar Kurtha, Erich Redman and Juliet Aubrey. Dramatized by Graham White from the translation by Raymond Rosenthal.

Vanadium Part 1: In the course of his work as a chemist in a paint factory in the 1960s, Primo Levi receives a letter from one of the factory's German clients, signed by a Doktor Muller. Could this be the Doktor Muller who had overseen Levi's work as a prisoner in the lab at Auschwitz?

CAST
Older Primo ..... Henry Goodman
Cometto ..... John Rowe
Dr Muller ..... Erich Redman
Younger Primo ..... Akbar Kurtha
Lucia ..... Juliet Aubrey
Polish overseer ..... Chris Pavlo

Argon: Primo imagines a fantasy meeting with his Piedmontese ancestors, who share a number of characteristics with the noble, rare and inert gases, such as Argon.

CAST
Older Primo ..... Henry Goodman
Cesare ..... John Rowe
Jacob ..... David Horovitch
Moses ..... David Hounslow
Samuel ..... Sam Dale
Abigail ..... Jessica Turner
Zepora ..... Debra Baker

In 'Lead', set in the ancient world, a prospector travels from northern to southern Europe in search of the valuable, but toxic, lead rock. Read by Paul Copley.

Produced and directed by Marc Beeby and Emma Harding Show less