Birdcage Walk By Helen Dunmore

Episode

First
Broadcast

Comments

20170306

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 ris

20170307

Lizzie's mother has shocking news which explains her sickness.

And Lizzie and her property developer husband Diner must display their house to prospective buyers.

Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution.

It touches on Radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy...

Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp

Abridged by Sara Davies.

Producer: Julian Wilkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.

Lizzie's mother has shocking news which explains her sickness.

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

20170308

News from France threatens to destabilise Europe and the overthrow of the French king makes Diner anxious that it will upset the housing market and scare off potential buyers.

Lizzie is preoccupied with the safe delivery of her mother's new baby.

Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution.

It touches on Radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy...

Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp

Abridged by Sara Davies.

Producer: Julian Wilkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.

The overthrow of the French king makes Diner anxious about his property schemes.

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

20170309

Lizzie has a new baby brother, but must confront a terrible loss.

She is also unsettled by her husband's past, and the story of his husband's first wife - a French woman called Lucie.

Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution.

It touches on Radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy...

Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp

Abridged by Sara Davies.

Producer: Julian Wilkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.

Lizzie has a new baby brother but must face a terrible loss.

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

20170310

Lizzie is missing her mother dreadfully and troubled by Diner's behaviour. She goes to visit Hannah for her reassurance and has an unexpected encounter.

News also come from France of the King's trial.

Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution.

It touches on Radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy...

Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp

Abridged by Sara Davies.

Producer: Julian Wilkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.

Lizzie has an unexpected encounter.

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

20170313

Diner questions where Lizzie has been on her nocturnal wanderings, and a chance encounter with a dressmaker on the streets of Bristol reveals a clue to his past.

Lizzie Fawkes decides to visit the dressmaker to find out more about Diner's first wife Lucie and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death.

Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution.

Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp

Abridged by Sara Davies.

Producer: Julian Wilkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.

A chance encounter reveals more of Diner's past.

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

20170314

The news from France darkens, and Lizzie receives a French visitor - but the visitor has not come to talk of the Revolution.

Instead she is searching for Lizzie husband's Diner, and the whereabouts of his first wife's tombstone.

Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution.

It touches on radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy...

Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp

Abridged by Sara Davies.

Producer: Julian Wilkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017.

As the news from France darkens, Lizzie has a secret she must hide from Diner.

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

20170315

Fear over the beheading of the King of France spreads to England and the housing market collapses.

Diner faces financial ruin and Lizzie must face a frightening truth about her marriage.

Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution.

Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp

Abridged by Sara Davies.

Producer: Julian Wilkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017

Fear over the beheading of the king of France spreads to England, and Diner faces ruin.

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

20170316

Lizzie is reunited with Thomas, but sees the scale of her husband's failure as his office is bare and his creditors come to the house shouting for their money.

Diner is forced to leave and he is determined that Lizzie will go with him.

Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution.

Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp

Abridged by Sara Davies.

Producer: Julian Wilkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017

Diner must escape his creditors, and he forces Lizzie to go with him.

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

20170317

Diner is taking Lizzie to the far side of the Gorge to a secret place.

It is here she must confront the truth about what actually happened to Diner's first wife...

Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution.

It touches on radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy...

Concluded by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp

Abridged by Sara Davies.

Producer: Julian Wilkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017

Lizzie confronts the truth about what actually happened to Diner's first wife.

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

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20170306	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 ris
02	20170307	Lizzie's mother has shocking news which explains her sickness. And Lizzie and her property developer husband Diner must display their house to prospective buyers. Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution. It touches on Radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy... Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp Abridged by Sara Davies. Producer: Julian Wilkinson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017. Lizzie's mother has shocking news which explains her sickness. Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France.
03	20170308	News from France threatens to destabilise Europe and the overthrow of the French king makes Diner anxious that it will upset the housing market and scare off potential buyers. Lizzie is preoccupied with the safe delivery of her mother's new baby. Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution. It touches on Radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy... Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp Abridged by Sara Davies. Producer: Julian Wilkinson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017. The overthrow of the French king makes Diner anxious about his property schemes. Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France.
04	20170309	Lizzie has a new baby brother, but must confront a terrible loss. She is also unsettled by her husband's past, and the story of his husband's first wife - a French woman called Lucie. Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution. It touches on Radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy... Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp Abridged by Sara Davies. Producer: Julian Wilkinson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017. Lizzie has a new baby brother but must face a terrible loss. Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France.
05	20170310	Lizzie is missing her mother dreadfully and troubled by Diner's behaviour. She goes to visit Hannah for her reassurance and has an unexpected encounter. News also come from France of the King's trial. Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution. It touches on Radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy... Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp Abridged by Sara Davies. Producer: Julian Wilkinson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017. Lizzie has an unexpected encounter. Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France.
06	20170313	Diner questions where Lizzie has been on her nocturnal wanderings, and a chance encounter with a dressmaker on the streets of Bristol reveals a clue to his past. Lizzie Fawkes decides to visit the dressmaker to find out more about Diner's first wife Lucie and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death. Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution. Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp Abridged by Sara Davies. Producer: Julian Wilkinson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017. A chance encounter reveals more of Diner's past. Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France.
07	20170314	The news from France darkens, and Lizzie receives a French visitor - but the visitor has not come to talk of the Revolution. Instead she is searching for Lizzie husband's Diner, and the whereabouts of his first wife's tombstone. Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution. It touches on radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy... Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp Abridged by Sara Davies. Producer: Julian Wilkinson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017. As the news from France darkens, Lizzie has a secret she must hide from Diner. Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France.
08	20170315	Fear over the beheading of the King of France spreads to England and the housing market collapses. Diner faces financial ruin and Lizzie must face a frightening truth about her marriage. Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution. Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp Abridged by Sara Davies. Producer: Julian Wilkinson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017 Fear over the beheading of the king of France spreads to England, and Diner faces ruin. Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France.
09	20170316	Lizzie is reunited with Thomas, but sees the scale of her husband's failure as his office is bare and his creditors come to the house shouting for their money. Diner is forced to leave and he is determined that Lizzie will go with him. Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution. Read by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp Abridged by Sara Davies. Producer: Julian Wilkinson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017 Diner must escape his creditors, and he forces Lizzie to go with him. Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France.
10	20170317	Diner is taking Lizzie to the far side of the Gorge to a secret place. It is here she must confront the truth about what actually happened to Diner's first wife... Based in Bristol in 1792, Helen Dunmore's novel is set against a backdrop of the French Revolution. It touches on radical idealism, property speculation, political turmoil and private tragedy... Concluded by Hattie Morahan and Carl Prekopp Abridged by Sara Davies. Producer: Julian Wilkinson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2017 Lizzie confronts the truth about what actually happened to Diner's first wife. Helen Dunmore's novel is set in Bristol in 1792 as revolution blazes in France.