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Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature

Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and literature from around the world

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Book at Bedtime: True Grit

Nancy Crane

Charles Portis

Doreen Estall

Heather Larmour

Book at Bedtime: True Grit: Episode 1

True Grit

Episode 1

BBC Radio 4 - Book at Bedtime, True Grit, Episode 1

Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross sets out to avenge her father's death.

Seeking to avenge her father's death, 14-year-old Mattie Ross sets about looking for a local marshal to help her hunt down his murderer, Tom Chaney.

Narrated by the aging Mattie Ross, True Grit is Mattie's recollection of events, many years earlier, when, as a fourteen year old girl she undertook an unthinkable quest to avenge her father's death...

Mattie's father, Frank Ross, left the family farm near the town of Dardanelle in Yell County, Arkansas, on a trip to buy some ponies, but was tragically never to return. He was shot dead and robbed by Tom Chaney, one of his own workers, who then fled, and is suspected to be hiding out in Indian Territory.

Mattie travels to Fort Smith to arrange for the return of her father's body and to enquire as to what is being done to find her father's killer. Finding the local lawmen disinterested, Mattie resolves to take matters into her own hands and seeks out the toughest deputy U.S. Marshal in the district, one Reuben J. 'Rooster' Cogburn. Although an aging, one-eyed, overweight, trigger-happy, hard-drinking man, Mattie believes Cogburn has 'true grit' and is the man best suited to help her.

Mattie persuades Cogburn to take on the job, and, joined by a Texas Ranger named La Boeuf, the three travel into dark, dangerous Indian country to hunt Chaney down and bring him to justice.

First brought to the big screen in a classic 1969 western starring John Wayne and more recently by the Cohen brothers in a film starring Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit has been abridged for Radio 4 by Doreen Estall, and is read by Nancy Crane.

Produced by Heather Larmour.

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

Doreen Estall abridges the 1968 novel by Charles Portis. Read by Nancy Crane

Doreen Estall abridges the 1968 novel by Charles Portis, brought to the big screen in the 1969 western starring John Wayne and more recently by the Cohen brothers. Read by Nancy Crane

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