 Birdcage Walk

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BBC Radio 4 FM

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Hattie Morahan

Carl Prekopp

Helen Dunmore

Sara Davies

Julian Wilkinson

Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore: Episode 1

Birdcage Walk

Episode 1

Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore

BBC Radio 4 - Birdcage Walk by Helen Dunmore, Episode 1

By Helen Dunmore. Hattie Morahan reads a story of radicals, property and love.

Set in Bristol in the 1790s, a mysterious burial and financially risky building plans. Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp.

Set in Bristol in 1792, Birdcage Walk is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution. It touches on Radical idealism, property, political turmoil and private tragedy. 

Inspired by the real life of Julia Fawkes, a leading Radical writer, none of whose work has survived.

Helen Dunmore explores the tensions between generations and genders, and examines the idea of legacy as Julia's daughter Lizzie finds herself torn between her charismatic, self-made husband and her idealistic mother. 

But the story opens four years earlier as a man hides a body in a gorge. 

The death is unexplained but four years later, the man has a wife - Lizzie Fawkes. Lizzie visits her mother who is ill, and tells her of her husband's Diner's plans to build a magnificent new terrace overlooking the Gorge. It is to be the envy of the city but for Diner a huge financial risk… 

Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp

Abridged in ten part by Sara Davies.

Producer: Julian Wilkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.

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Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France.

Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France. Abridged by Sara Davies. Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp.

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