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Book at Bedtime: The Diary of a Provincial Lady

Claire Skinner

EM Delafield

Libby Spurrier

Joanna Green

Book at Bedtime: The Diary of a Provincial Lady: Episode 4

The Diary of a Provincial Lady

Episode 4

BBC Radio 4 - Book at Bedtime, The Diary of a Provincial Lady, Episode 4

Disaster strikes as Ethel gives notice, and our Lady heads to London to find a replacement

Disaster strikes when Ethel gives notice. Journal of an upper-middle class woman in 1930s Devon. Read by Claire Skinner. From December 2014.

E M Delafield was great friends with Margaret Mackworth, 2nd Viscountess Rhondda, and became a director of Time and Tide magazine. When the editor "wanted some light 'middles', preferably in serial form, she promised to think of something". And so it was, in 1930, that her most popular and enduring work The Diary of a Provincial Lady was written. It has never been out of print.

The Diary of a Provincial Lady charts the day-to-day life of a Devonshire-dwelling lady and her attempts to keep her somewhat ramshackle household from falling into chaos.

Husband Robert, when he's not snoozing behind The Times, does everything with grumbling reluctance. Her children are gleefully troublesome. A succession of tricky servants invariably seem to gain the upper hand. And if her domestic trials are not enough, she must keep up appearances - particularly with the maddeningly patronising Lady Boxe, with whom our Provincial Lady eternally (and unsuccessfully) endeavours to compete.

This largely autobiographical novel substituted the names of "Robin" and "Vicky" for her own children, Lionel and Rosamund.


Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Read by Claire Skinner

Produced by Joanna Green
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

EM Delafield charts the day-to-day life of a Devonshire-dwelling lady.

EM Delafield charts the day-to-day life of a Devonshire-dwelling lady. Read by Claire Skinner.

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