Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Snobs | 20120108 | 20130504 (R4) | Muriel Spark had one of the most distinctive voices in twentieth-century writing, was capable of incisive and darkly-comic observation, and won prizes for her writing across the World. Spark worked as a novelist, dramatist and children's author, but it is perhaps her short stories that best exemplify her sharp eye and beautifully-crafted work, where she coolly probes the idiosyncrasies that lurk beneath veneer of human respectability. The three stories in this series include the darkly funny 'Ladies and Gentlemen', which contrasts well with the wry humour of social comedy 'Snobs' and the sharp satire of class, aspiration and phobia in 'You Should Have Seen the Mess'. The series begins with Patricia Hodge reading 'The Snobs', a deliciously acerbic and witty dissection of snobbery, insensitivity and social climbing. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. A charming family are helped to escape the hands of a grasping social-climbing couple. Short stories by Muriel Spark Muriel Spark had one of the most distinctive voices in twentieth-century writing, was capable of incisive and darkly-comic observation, and won prizes for her writing across the World. Spark worked as a novelist, dramatist and children's author, but it is perhaps her short stories that best exemplify her sharp eye and beautifully-crafted work, where she coolly probes the idiosyncrasies that lurk beneath veneer of human respectability. The three stories in this series include the darkly funny 'Ladies and Gentlemen', which contrasts well with the wry humour of social comedy 'Snobs' and the sharp satire of class, aspiration and phobia in 'You Should Have Seen the Mess'. The series begins with Patricia Hodge reading 'The Snobs', a deliciously acerbic and witty dissection of snobbery, insensitivity and social climbing. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. A charming family are helped to escape the hands of a grasping social-climbing couple. Short stories by Muriel Spark |
| 02 | You Should Have Seen The Mess | 20120115 | 20130511 (R4) | Muriel Spark had one of the most distinctive voices in twentieth-century writing, was capable of incisive and darkly-comic observation, and won prizes for her writing across the World. Spark worked as a novelist, dramatist and children's author, but it is perhaps her short stories that best exemplify her sharp eye and beautifully-crafted work, where she coolly probes the idiosyncrasies that lurk beneath veneer of human respectability. The three stories in this series include the darkly funny 'Ladies and Gentlemen', which contrasts well with the wry humour of social comedy 'The Snobs' and the sharp satire of class, aspiration and phobia in this vignette: 'You Should Have Seen the Mess', read by Jane Collingwood. Here, Muriel Spark revels in the pettiness of the British psyche in an acerbic story of a girl who turns her back on life's opportunities for fear of a little dirt. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. A girl turns her back on life's opportunities for fear of a little dirt. Short stories by Muriel Spark Muriel Spark had one of the most distinctive voices in twentieth-century writing, was capable of incisive and darkly-comic observation, and won prizes for her writing across the World. Spark worked as a novelist, dramatist and children's author, but it is perhaps her short stories that best exemplify her sharp eye and beautifully-crafted work, where she coolly probes the idiosyncrasies that lurk beneath veneer of human respectability. The three stories in this series include the darkly funny 'Ladies and Gentlemen', which contrasts well with the wry humour of social comedy 'The Snobs' and the sharp satire of class, aspiration and phobia in this vignette: 'You Should Have Seen the Mess', read by Jane Collingwood. Here, Muriel Spark revels in the pettiness of the British psyche in an acerbic story of a girl who turns her back on life's opportunities for fear of a little dirt. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. A girl turns her back on life's opportunities for fear of a little dirt. Short stories by Muriel Spark |
| 03 | Ladies And Gentlemen | 20120122 | 20130518 (R4) | Muriel Spark had one of the most distinctive voices in twentieth-century writing, was capable of incisive and darkly-comic observation, and won prizes for her writing across the World. Spark worked as a novelist, dramatist and children's author, but it is perhaps her short stories that best exemplify her sharp eye and beautifully-crafted work, where she coolly probes the idiosyncrasies that lurk beneath veneer of human respectability. The three stories in this series include the wry humour of social comedy 'The Snobs' and the sharp satire of class, aspiration and phobia in 'You Should Have Seen the Mess'. Here, Muriel Spark enjoys a timely satire on the perils awaiting those who attempt to commit adultery, when a married man runs the terrible risk of taking a walk in the park with his young mistress. Read by Tracy-Ann Oberman. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. A married man runs a terrible risk when out for a walk in the park with his mistress. Short stories by Muriel Spark Muriel Spark had one of the most distinctive voices in twentieth-century writing, was capable of incisive and darkly-comic observation, and won prizes for her writing across the World. Spark worked as a novelist, dramatist and children's author, but it is perhaps her short stories that best exemplify her sharp eye and beautifully-crafted work, where she coolly probes the idiosyncrasies that lurk beneath veneer of human respectability. The three stories in this series include the wry humour of social comedy 'The Snobs' and the sharp satire of class, aspiration and phobia in 'You Should Have Seen the Mess'. Here, Muriel Spark enjoys a timely satire on the perils awaiting those who attempt to commit adultery, when a married man runs the terrible risk of taking a walk in the park with his young mistress. Read by Tracy-Ann Oberman. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. A married man runs a terrible risk when out for a walk in the park with his mistress. Short stories by Muriel Spark |