Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20140120 | By Jonathan Lethem A Twentieth Century American epic by Jonathan Lethem, applying his sharp, funny and perfectly crafted prose to an alternative history of America which puts a woman at its heart - a Jewish, Communist woman, a single mother, a second generation immigrant deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1955 Rose Zimmer is kicked out of the American Communist party for her affair with a black policeman. Her rage and her radicalism, her incendiary disappointment in the Twentieth Century, prove inescapable for the generations that come after her - her idealistic hippy daughter Miriam, black stepson Cicero and her lost grandson Sergius. Jonathan Lethem is perhaps best known for 'Motherless Brooklyn', his noir-ish novel about a private detective with Tourettes which won the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the New York Times bestselling novel 'Fortress of Solitude' (named after Superman's ice cave hideaway) engaging with race, culture, comic books and cool music in the latter decades of the Twentieth Century. His novels tease the boundaries of genre and literary fiction. Read by Laurel Lefkow Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder Produced by Allegra McIlroy. By Jonathan Lethem. A powerful story of modern America spanning 80 years. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literatur |
| 02 | 20140121 | By Jonathan Lethem A Twentieth Century American epic by prize-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, applying his sharp, funny and perfectly crafted prose to an alternative history of America which puts a woman at its heart - a Jewish, Communist woman, a single mother, a second generation immigrant deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1955 Rose Zimmer is kicked out of the American Communist party for her affair with a black policeman. Her ire and her radicalism, her incendiary disappointment in the Twentieth Century, prove inescapable for the generations that come after her - her idealistic hippy daughter Miriam, black stepson Cicero and her lost grandson Sergius. Episode 2: Teenage Miriam plays on her parents' Communist credentials to impress her friends, and risks her mother's despair-fuelled rage when she sneaks a boy home. Read by Laurel Lefkow Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Miriam plays on her parents' Communist credentials to impress her peers. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literatur |
| 03 | 20140122 | By Jonathan Lethem A Twentieth Century American epic by prize-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, applying his sharp, funny and perfectly crafted prose to an alternative history of America which puts a woman at its heart - a Jewish, Communist woman, a single mother, a second generation immigrant deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1955 Rose Zimmer is kicked out of the American Communist party for her affair with a black policeman. Her ire and her radicalism, her incendiary disappointment in the Twentieth Century, prove inescapable for the generations that come after her - her idealistic hippy daughter Miriam, black stepson Cicero and her lost grandson Sergius. Episode 3: Miriam sneaks a boy home and ignites a life changing row. Single mother Rose and teenage Miriam are caught in a dramatically escalating argument with consequences that spool out into both of their lives. Read by Laurel Lefkow Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Miriam sneaks a boy home and ignites a life-changing row with her mother Rose. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literatur |
| 04 | 20140123 | By Jonathan Lethem A Twentieth Century American epic by prize-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, applying his sharp, funny and perfectly crafted prose to an alternative history of America which puts a woman at its heart - a Jewish, Communist woman, a single mother, a second generation immigrant deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1955 Rose Zimmer is kicked out of the American Communist party for her affair with a black policeman. Her ire and her radicalism, her incendiary disappointment in the Twentieth Century, prove inescapable for the generations that come after her - her idealistic hippy daughter Miriam, black stepson Cicero and her lost grandson Sergius. Episode 4: Miriam takes teenage Cicero under her wing. Years later he meets her adult son Sergius. Read by Laurel Lefkow Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literatur |
| 05 | 20140124 | By Jonathan Lethem A Twentieth Century American epic by prize-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, applying his sharp, funny and perfectly crafted prose to an alternative history of America which puts a woman at its heart - a Jewish, Communist woman, a single mother, a second generation immigrant deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1955 Rose Zimmer is kicked out of the American Communist party for her affair with a black policeman. Her ire and her radicalism, her incendiary disappointment in the Twentieth Century, prove inescapable for the generations that come after her - her idealistic hippy daughter Miriam, black stepson Cicero and her lost grandson Sergius. Episode 5: A reflection on the men who have mattered in Rose Zimmer's life. Read by Laurel Lefkow Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literatur |
| 06 | 20140127 | By Jonathan Lethem A Twentieth Century American epic by prize-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, applying his sharp, funny and perfectly crafted prose to an alternative history of America which puts a woman at its heart - a Jewish, Communist woman, a single mother, a second generation immigrant deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1955 Rose Zimmer is kicked out of the American Communist party for her affair with a black policeman. Her ire and her radicalism, her incendiary disappointment in the Twentieth Century, prove inescapable for the generations that come after her - her idealistic hippy daughter Miriam, black stepson Cicero and her lost grandson Sergius. A fragmented and compelling story of modern America from the perspective of those who lost out. Episode 6: Letters between Miriam in America and her father Albert in Germany shed new light on their relationship. Read by Laurel Lefkow Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Letters between Miriam in America and her father Albert in Germany shed new light. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literatur |
| 07 | 20140128 | By Jonathan Lethem A Twentieth Century American epic by prize-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, applying his sharp, funny and perfectly crafted prose to an alternative history of America which puts a woman at its heart - a Jewish, Communist woman, a single mother, a second generation immigrant deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1955 Rose Zimmer is kicked out of the American Communist party for her affair with a black policeman. Her ire and her radicalism, her incendiary disappointment in the Twentieth Century, prove inescapable for the generations that come after her - her idealistic hippy daughter Miriam, black stepson Cicero and her lost grandson Sergius. A fragmented and compelling story of modern America from the perspective of those who lost out. Episode 7: Today's episode is a poignant glimpse into Miriam and Tommy's personal experience of revolution. Read by Laurel Lefkow Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literatur |
| 08 | 20140129 | A Twentieth Century American epic by prize-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, applying his sharp, funny and perfectly crafted prose to an alternative history of America which puts a woman at its heart - a Jewish, Communist woman, a single mother, a second generation immigrant deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1955 Rose Zimmer is kicked out of the American Communist party for her affair with a black policeman. Her ire and her radicalism, her incendiary disappointment in the Twentieth Century, prove inescapable for the generations that come after her - her idealistic hippy daughter Miriam, black stepson Cicero and her lost grandson Sergius. A fragmented and compelling story of modern America from the perspective of those who lost out. Episode 8: Alone in a Quaker boarding school, Sergius tries to come to terms with the loss of his family Read by Laurel Lefkow Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder Produced by Allegra McIlroy. Alone in a Quaker boarding school, Sergius tries to accept the loss of his family. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literatur |
| 09 | 20140130 | By Jonathan Lethem A Twentieth Century American epic by prize-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, applying his sharp, funny and perfectly crafted prose to an alternative history of America which puts a woman at its heart - a Jewish, Communist woman, a single mother, a second generation immigrant deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1955 Rose Zimmer is kicked out of the American Communist party for her affair with a black policeman. Her ire and her radicalism, her incendiary disappointment in the Twentieth Century, prove inescapable for the generations that come after her - her idealistic hippy daughter Miriam, black stepson Cicero and her lost grandson Sergius. A fragmented and compelling story of modern America from the perspective of those who lost out. Episode 9: Today's episode offers a moving glimpse into the relationship between Rose and her stepson Cicero as she struggles with her encroaching loss of memory. Read by Laurel Lefkow Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder Produced by Allegra McIlroy. A moving glimpse into the relationship between Rose and her stepson Cicero. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literatur |
| 10 | 20140131 | By Jonathan Lethem A Twentieth Century American epic by prize-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, applying his sharp, funny and perfectly crafted prose to an alternative history of America which puts a woman at its heart - a Jewish, Communist woman, a single mother, a second generation immigrant deeply involved in the civil rights movement. In 1955 Rose Zimmer is kicked out of the American Communist party for her affair with a black policeman. Her ire and her radicalism, her incendiary disappointment in the Twentieth Century, prove inescapable for the generations that come after her - her idealistic hippy daughter Miriam, black stepson Cicero and her lost grandson Sergius. A fragmented and compelling story of modern America from the perspective of those who lost out. Episode 10: This fragmented and compelling story of modern America concludes with Rose's stepson Cicero, and her grandson Sergius. Read by Laurel Lefkow Abridged by Elizabeth Reeder Produced by Allegra McIlroy. The story concludes with Rose's stepson Cicero, and her grandson Sergius. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literatur |