Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 02 | 20150414 | Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books.
A beautiful Russian woman, married to an Englishman, but do they really share a gilded life?
Natalia and Tom Summerscale are a golden couple who live an opulent life in Chelsea. When Nick is called upon to deliver an art book for Natalia to their home, The Laurels, he enters a world where everything appears to be perfect.
Read by Philip Arditti
Written by Vesna Goldsworthy
Produced by Jill Waters
Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 03 | 20150415 | Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books.
Nick's rented home abuts an enormous construction site for a 'private palace' in Chelsea. The owner of this massive undertaking and edifice is his employer, the elusive Roman Gorsky.
After his visit to The Laurels, Nick bumps into Tom Summerscale and they have lunch together. Tom invites Nick to visit his accountant with him.
Read by Philip Arditti
Written by Vesna Goldsworthy
Produced by Jill Waters
Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 04 | 20150416 | Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books.
The parallels with The Great Gatsby begin to emerge. Roman Gorsky has asked Nick to furnish the library of his mansion under construction with books of untold value and priceless editions of Russian classics. He also wants a section of art books which will impress a connoisseur.
The bookseller of modest means finds himself drawn into a world of endless wealth. He also begins to spend time with the voracious former Bulgarian gymnast, Gery.
Read by Philip Arditti
Written by Vesna Goldsworthy
Produced by Jill Waters
Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 05 | 20150417 | Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books.
Nick Kimovic is rewarded for his efforts in the antiquarian book auctions with a holiday of unsurpassed luxury on Gorsky's private island. The other guests are an eclectic array of Russian gangsters and English financiers.
On his return he meets Gery, who has something to tell him.
Read by Philip Arditti
Written by Vesna Goldsworthy
Produced by Jill Waters
Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 07 | 20150421 | Natalia and Tom Summerscale are a golden couple who live an opulent life in Chelsea.
When Nick is called upon to deliver an art book for Natalia to their home, The Laurels, he enters a world where everything appears to be perfect. But he soon discovers that Natalia is the woman for whom Gorsky is building his lavish palace, opposite The Laurels, with every intention that she should leave her husband and renew her ten year old promise to him.
Tom Summerscale is growing increasingly jealous, and Natalia seems to be waiting before she makes her move.
Read by Philip Arditti
Written by Vesna Goldsworthy
Produced by Jill Waters
Gorsky: a story about a Russian billionaire, his Thameside palace, love, beauty and books. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 08 | 20150422 | Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books.
On a sweltering May afternoon, Nick and Gorsky are invited to join the Summerscales, and Gery, at their rooftop pool. The shock of discovering the physical resemblance - identically misshapen little toes between Gorsky and Natalia Summerscale's ten year old daughter Daisy leaves Nick stunned.
Tom Summerscale, already embroiled in an affair himself, is clearly furious. Finally cards are placed on the table in a bar in Notting Hill. But the drama has only just begun to come to a head.
Read by Philip Arditti
Written by Vesna Goldsworthy
Produced by Jill Waters
Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 09 | 20150423 | Chelski : a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books
With the discovery of Janice Allaoui's body in his Covent Garden flat, Tom Summerscale is arrested. Nick remains convinced of his innocence, as does Natalia who feels she needs to stand by her husband.
Gorsky has moved into his new house but is left waiting and wondering if Natalia and his daughter will ever join him there.
Read by Philip Arditti
Written by Vesna Goldsworthy
Produced by Jill Waters
Gorsky: a story about a Russian billionaire, his Thameside palace, love, beauty and books. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 10 | 20150424 | Part homage to The Great Gatsby, Vesna Goldsworthy's novel is a poignant tribute to the hollowness that lies at the heart of great wealth and the sadness that can overwhelm great love.
Our narrator, Nick, looks back on the events of that summer in London and recalls the aftermath of Gorsky's murder, and how the person who killed him was eventually caught.
Read by Philip Arditti
Written by Vesna Goldsworthy
Produced by Jill Waters
Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 01 | 20150413 | A fabulously wealthy Russian visits a struggling Chelsea bookshop with a proposal.
When the enigmatic Russian billionaire Roman Gorsky enters a quiet Chelsea Mews bookshop, Nick - himself an immigrant from the former Yugoslavia - has no idea of the impact this man will have on his work and private life. He only knows that he has been handed the best commission of his life - to create a private library of unparalleled scope and almost priceless worth.
But what lies behind Gorsky's desire to create this masterpiece, in a land far from his birth, as he endeavours to put down roots in this new city he calls home?
Read by Philip Arditti
Written by Vesna Goldsworthy
Produced by Jill Waters
Chelski: a London home for Russian wealth. Gorsky: a story about beauty, money and books. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 06 | 20150420 | When the enigmatic Russian billionaire Roman Gorsky enters a quiet Chelsea Mews bookshop, Nick - himself an immigrant from the former Yugoslavia - has no idea of the impact this man will have over his work and private life. As Nick gets drawn in to the world of the Russian community in London he begins to learn that its richest and most elusive member, Gorsky, is driven by one thing alone - his passion for Natalia Summerscale. But although Gorsky met Natalia when she was not much more than a child in Russia, she is now married to a wealthy Englishman. A fact that Gorsky is determined to overlook. Read by Philip Arditti Written by Vesna Goldsworthy Abridged by Isobel Creed Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Gorsky: a story about a Russian billionaire, his Thameside palace, love, beauty and books. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |