Rabbit Redux 

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 LW

Toby Jones

John Updike

Eileen Horne

Clive Brill

Rabbit Redux by John Updike: 2. Reluctance

Rabbit Redux

2. Reluctance

Rabbit Redux by John Updike

BBC Radio 4 - Rabbit Redux by John Updike, 2. Reluctance

Harry and Janice confront their broken marriage and their reluctance to mend it.

US moon landing imminent, Harry and Janice confront their broken marriage and their reluctance to mend it. Read by Toby Jones.

As American astronauts approach the Moon's surface, Harry and Janice prepare to unearth the truth about their broken marriage, and admit their reluctance to mend it.

John Updike's masterful Rabbit quintet established Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom as the quintessential American White middle class male.

The first book Rabbit, Run was published in 1960 to critical acclaim. Rabbit Redux is the second in the series, published in 1971 and charting the end of the sixties - featuring, among other things, the first American moon landing and the Vietnam War.

Despite its very strong language, sex, and reflection of racist attitudes of the time, Time Magazine said of the book and its author, "Updike owns a rare verbal genius, a gifted intelligence and a sense of tragedy made bearable by wit. A masterpiece."

It's extraordinary how many of its themes reverberate down to the present day.

Abridged by Eileen Horne
Read by Toby Jones
Produced by Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 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.

Audiobooks

Drama: Psychological

Serialised reading of John Updike's 1971 novel. Read by Toby Jones.

Serialised reading of John Updike's 1971 novel about quintessential American white middle class male Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom. Read by Toby Jones. Abridged by Eileen Horne.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Rabbit Redux by John Updike

2. Reluctance

Contributors

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4