Golden Hill

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Jamie Parker

Francis Spufford

Isobel Creed

Jill Waters

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford: 1. Arrival

1. Arrival

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

BBC Radio 4 - Golden Hill by Francis Spufford, 1. Arrival

November 1st, 1746. A traveller arrives at the port of New York, on urgent business.

4 Extra Debut. November 1st, 1746. Mr Smith arrives from London at the port of New York, on pressing, urgent business. Read by Jamie Parker.

New York, a small town on the tip of Manhattan Island, 1746. 

After a long voyage from London, Mr Smith is anxious to disembark. His business is both pressing and mysterious.

Francis Spufford’s novel abridged in ten parts.

One rainy evening, a charming and handsome young stranger, fresh off the boat from England, pitches up to a counting house on Golden Hill Street, with a suspicious yet compelling proposition. 

He has an order for £1,000 in his pocket that he wishes to cash. But can he be trusted? 

This is New York in its infancy, a place where a young man with a fast tongue can invent himself afresh, fall in love, and find a world of trouble. 

Read by Jamie Parker

Francis explains:  "Golden Hill is… written like a novel from the 18th century. So the story… is as hectically stuffed with events as it would have been if Fielding or Smollett had written it.” 

Abridged by Isobel Creed and Jill Waters
Producer:  Jill Waters

A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017.

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

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Francis Spufford's rollicking historical novel set in 18th-century New York.

Francis Spufford's rollicking historical novel set in 18th-century New York. Read by Jamie Parker. Abridged by Isobel Creed and Jill Waters.

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Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

1. Arrival

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