Episodes
| Series | Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | 20100629 | Juliet Stevenson reads F M Mayor's unfairly Neglected Classic, the story of a plain, reliable parson's daughter whose life of duty and service is thrown into confusion by an unexpected and unsought love affair. Today Mary's quiet life in the rectory is disturbed by a new visitor, Mr Herbert.
The Reader is Juliet Stevenson
FM Mayor's masterful novel, The Rector's Daughter, is a rare thing - a novel with a deceptively small canvas, set in the backwaters of a dull East Anglia a century ago, but still as fresh as ever. Much loved by those who have discovered it, it now comes to Radio 4 as one of the Open Book listeners' Neglected Classics.
At the heart of the novel lie the fortunes of Mary Jocelyn, a dutiful and devoted daughter content to live out her destiny under the leaden East Anglian skies she loves, to find solace in a robin's song and in the rare moments of warmth from her aged and formidable father. But on losing the one soul who really loved and needed her, Mary finds herself unbearably lonely, and for the first time open to new horizons.
With deft precision, FM Mayor captures the emotions stirring in Mary's heart and the pain of thwarted middle aged desire. With her unerring eye, she reveals both the bitterness and strengths of a happy marriage. The Rector's Daughter is acerbic and poignant and much deserves its loyal fans and its place within Radio 4's Neglected Classics season.
FM Mayor was born in 1872 and read History at Newnham College Cambridge when university education was still a rare adventure for a woman. Her fiance died in India and she remained within her family circle for the rest of life (her father was a clergyman like Mary's). She published four novels and a collection of short stories, of which The Rector's Daughter is the best known; it was much praised on publication by Rebecca West, Rosamund Lehmann, E M Forster and Virginia Woolf. Plagued by ill health, she died in 1932 aged 60.
Mary's quiet life in the rectory is disturbed by a new visitor, Mr Herbert. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature | |
| 03 | 20100630 | Juliet Stevenson reads F M Mayor's unfairly Neglected Classic, the story of a plain, reliable parson's daughter whose life of duty and service is thrown into confusion by an unexpected and unsought love affair. Today Mary travels to London in search of artistic advice and enters a Bohemian world far beyond her normal experience.
The Reader is Juliet Stevenson
FM Mayor's masterful novel, The Rector's Daughter, is a rare thing - a novel with a deceptively small canvas, set in the backwaters of a dull East Anglia a century ago, but still as fresh as ever. Much loved by those who have discovered it, it now comes to Radio 4 as one of the Open Book listeners' Neglected Classics.
At the heart of the novel lie the fortunes of Mary Jocelyn, a dutiful and devoted daughter content to live out her destiny under the leaden East Anglian skies she loves, to find solace in a robin's song and in the rare moments of warmth from her aged and formidable father. But on losing the one soul who really loved and needed her, Mary finds herself unbearably lonely, and for the first time open to new horizons.
With deft precision, FM Mayor captures the emotions stirring in Mary's heart and the pain of thwarted middle aged desire. With her unerring eye, she reveals both the bitterness and strengths of a happy marriage. The Rector's Daughter is acerbic and poignant and much deserves its loyal fans and its place within Radio 4's Neglected Classics season.
Mary travels to London in search of artistic advice and enters a world of bohemians. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature | |
| 04 | 20100701 | Juliet Stevenson reads FM Mayor's unfairly Neglected Classic, the story of a plain, reliable parson's daughter whose life of duty and service is thrown into confusion by an unexpected and unsought love affair. Today a confession in the rectory garden commits Mary's heart forever, despite what is to come.
The Reader is Juliet Stevenson
FM Mayor's masterful novel, The Rector's Daughter, is a rare thing - a novel with a deceptively small canvas, set in the backwaters of a dull East Anglia a century ago, but still as fresh as ever. Much loved by those who have discovered it, it now comes to Radio 4 as one of the Open Book listeners' Neglected Classics.
At the heart of the novel lie the fortunes of Mary Jocelyn, a dutiful and devoted daughter content to live out her destiny under the leaden East Anglian skies she loves, to find solace in a robin's song and in the rare moments of warmth from her aged and formidable father. But on losing the one soul who really loved and needed her, Mary finds herself unbearably lonely, and for the first time open to new horizons.
With deft precision, FM Mayor captures the emotions stirring in Mary's heart and the pain of thwarted middle aged desire. With her unerring eye, she reveals both the bitterness and strengths of a happy marriage. The Rector's Daughter is acerbic and poignant and much deserves its loyal fans and its place within Radio 4's Neglected Classics season.
A confession in the rectory garden commits Mary Jocelyn's heart forever. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature | |
| 05 | 20100702 | Juliet Stevenson reads F M Mayor's unfairly Neglected Classic, the story of a plain, reliable parson's daughter whose life of duty and service is thrown into confusion by an unexpected and unsought love affair. Today the newlyweds return to Dedmayne but the path of true love does not run smooth.
The Reader is Juliet Stevenson
FM Mayor's masterful novel, The Rector's Daughter, is a rare thing - a novel with a deceptively small canvas, set in the backwaters of a dull East Anglia a century ago, but still as fresh as ever. Much loved by those who have discovered it, it now comes to Radio 4 as one of the Open Book listeners' Neglected Classics.
At the heart of the novel lie the fortunes of Mary Jocelyn, a dutiful and devoted daughter content to live out her destiny under the leaden East Anglian skies she loves, to find solace in a robin's song and in the rare moments of warmth from her aged and formidable father. But on losing the one soul who really loved and needed her, Mary finds herself unbearably lonely, and for the first time open to new horizons.
With deft precision, FM Mayor captures the emotions stirring in Mary's heart and the pain of thwarted middle aged desire. With her unerring eye, she reveals both the bitterness and strengths of a happy marriage. The Rector's Daughter is acerbic and poignant and much deserves its loyal fans and its place within Radio 4's Neglected Classics season.
The newlywed Herberts return to Dedmayne, but the path of true love does not run smoothly. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature | |
| 06 | 20100705 | Juliet Stevenson reads F M Mayor's unfairly Neglected Classic, the story of a plain, reliable parson's daughter whose life of duty and service is thrown into confusion by an unexpected and unsought love affair. Today, an uncontrolled moment of passion. After an increasingly unhappy time at home, Kathy abandons Robert for the Riviera, leaving him to ponder their marriage - and dream of what might have been with Mary.
The Reader is Juliet Stevenson
F M Mayor's masterful novel, The Rector's Daughter, is a rare thing - a novel with a deceptively small canvas, set in the backwaters of a dull East Anglia a century ago, but still as fresh as ever. Much loved by those who have discovered it, it now comes to Radio 4 as one of the Open Book listeners' Neglected Classics.
With Kathy on the Riviera, Mr Herbert thinks increasingly of Mary. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature | |
| 07 | 20100706 | Juliet Stevenson reads F M Mayor's unfairly Neglected Classic, the story of a plain, reliable parson's daughter whose life of duty and service is thrown into confusion by an unexpected and unsought love affair. Today Mary flees Dedmayne, in turmoil after a single passionate embrace with Mr Herbert. Kathy, meanwhile, has made plans to escape the Herberts' unhappy marriage - but all will not go to plan.
F M Mayor's masterful novel, The Rector's Daughter, is a rare thing - a novel with a deceptively small canvas, set in the backwaters of a dull East Anglia a century ago, but still as fresh as ever. Much loved by those who have discovered it, it now comes to Radio 4 as one of the Open Book listeners' Neglected Classics.
Mary flees Dedmayne in turmoil, while Kathy's plans to escape to a new life go awry. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature | |
| 08 | 20100707 | Juliet Stevenson reads F M Mayor's unfairly Neglected Classic, the story of a plain, reliable parson's daughter whose life of duty and service is thrown into confusion by an unexpected and unsought love affair. Today Kathy returns from the Riviera, her beauty damaged but her marriage strengthened. And Mary befriends her erstwhile rival.
F M Mayor's masterful novel, The Rector's Daughter, is a rare thing - a novel with a deceptively small canvas, set in the backwaters of a dull East Anglia a century ago, but still as fresh as ever. Much loved by those who have discovered it, it now comes to Radio 4 as one of the Open Book listeners' Neglected Classics.
After returning from the Riviera, Kathy's disfigurement renews her marriage. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature | |
| 09 | 20100708 | Juliet Stevenson reads F M Mayor's unfairly Neglected Classic, the story of a plain, reliable parson's daughter whose life of duty and service is thrown into confusion by an unexpected and unsought love affair. Today Mary's loyalty and love are betrayed yet again while a marriage matures.
F M Mayor's masterful novel, The Rector's Daughter, is a rare thing - a novel with a deceptively small canvas, set in the backwaters of a dull East Anglia a century ago, but still as fresh as ever. Much loved by those who have discovered it, it now comes to Radio 4 as one of the Open Book listeners' Neglected Classics.
Mary's loyalty and love are betrayed yet again while a marriage matures. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature | |
| 10 | 20100709 | Juliet Stevenson reads the concluding episode of F M Mayor's unfairly Neglected Classic, the story of a plain, reliable parson's daughter whose life of duty and service is thrown into confusion by an unexpected and unsought love affair. Today Mary finds solace in a robin's song and Mr Herbert finally reveals his heart. Reader is Juliet Stevenson
F M Mayor's masterful novel, The Rector's Daughter, is a rare thing - a novel with a deceptively small canvas, set in the backwaters of a dull East Anglia a century ago, but still as fresh as ever. Much loved by those who have discovered it, it now comes to Radio 4 as one of the Open Book listeners' Neglected Classics.
Mary finds solace in a robin's song and Mr Herbert finally reveals his heart. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature | |
| BAB | 01 | 20100628 | Juliet Stevenson reads FM Mayor's unfairly Neglected Classic, the story of a plain, reliable parson's daughter whose life of duty and service is thrown into confusion by an unexpected and unsought love affair. Today we are introduced to Mary and her country home.
The Reader is Juliet Stevenson
FM Mayor's masterful novel, The Rector's Daughter, is a rare thing - a novel with a deceptively small canvas, set in the backwaters of a dull East Anglia a century ago, but still as fresh as ever. Much loved by those who have discovered it, it now comes to Radio 4 as one of the Open Book listeners' Neglected Classics.
At the heart of the novel lie the fortunes of Mary Jocelyn, a dutiful and devoted daughter content to live out her destiny under the leaden East Anglian skies she loves, to find solace in a robin's song and in the rare moments of warmth from her aged and formidable father. But on losing the one soul who really loved and needed her, Mary finds herself unbearably lonely, and for the first time open to new horizons.
With deft precision, FM Mayor captures the emotions stirring in Mary's heart and the pain of thwarted middle aged desire. With her unerring eye, she reveals both the bitterness and strengths of a happy marriage. The Rector's Daughter is acerbic and poignant and much deserves its loyal fans and its place within Radio 4's Neglected Classics season.
FM Mayor was born in 1872 and read History at Newnham College Cambridge when university education was still a rare adventure for a woman. Her fiance died in India and she remained within her family circle for the rest of her life (her father was a clergyman like Mary's). She published four novels and a collection of short stories, of which The Rector's Daughter is the best known; it was much praised on publication by Rebecca West, Rosamund Lehmann, E M Forster and Virginia Woolf. Plagued by ill health, she died in 1932 aged 60.
Plain, reliable Mary Jocelyn faces disarray over an unexpected love affair. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |