Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20141124 | '[He] unfolds a portrait of himself in gouache [...] It is a good likeness, he thinks, if a little tragic, and big-eared. She has drawn a man - given him something to grow into.' Esmond Lowndes's father is a leading light in the British Union Of Fascists. In 1937, Esmond is sent down from Cambridge in disgrace and dispatched instead to Florence to set up Radio Firenze - an English-language radio station aiming to form closer ties between Fascists in Italy and England. Esmond finds love and loss, and his journey of self-discovery becomes increasingly and - as Italy moves into war - more tightly intertwined with the fortunes of Florence, the city he has made his home. And at every turn, he comes up against the local Blackshirt leader, the brutal Mario Carita. Episode 1 (of 10) April 1937. At Croydon Aerodrome, Esmond says goodbye to his family and begins his journey to Florence. Alex Preston lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was selected as one of Waterstones New Voices 2010. His second, The Revelations, was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Alex is a journalist and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Reader: Carl Prekopp Abridger: Jeremy Osborne Produced by Rosalynd Ward |
| 02 | 20141125 | '[He] unfolds a portrait of himself in gouache [...] It is a good likeness, he thinks, if a little tragic, and big-eared. She has drawn a man - given him something to grow into.' Esmond Lowndes's father is a leading light in the British Union Of Fascists. In 1937, Esmond is sent down from Cambridge in disgrace and dispatched instead to Florence to set up Radio Firenze - an English-language radio station aiming to form closer ties between Fascists in Italy and England. Esmond finds love and loss, and his journey of self-discovery becomes increasingly and - as Italy moves into war - more tightly intertwined with the fortunes of Florence, the city he has made his home. And at every turn, he comes up against the local Blackshirt leader, the brutal Mario Carita. Episode 2 (of 10) Esmond meets Fiamma Ricci and some of the British expatriate community in Florence. Alex Preston lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was selected as one of Waterstones New Voices 2010. His second, The Revelations, was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Alex is a journalist and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Reader: Carl Prekopp Abridger: Jeremy Osborne Produced by Rosalynd Ward |
| 03 | 20141126 | '[He] unfolds a portrait of himself in gouache [...] It is a good likeness, he thinks, if a little tragic, and big-eared. She has drawn a man - given him something to grow into.' Esmond Lowndes's father is a leading light in the British Union Of Fascists. In 1937, Esmond is sent down from Cambridge in disgrace and dispatched instead to Florence to set up Radio Firenze - an English-language radio station aiming to form closer ties between Fascists in Italy and England. Esmond finds love and loss, and his journey of self-discovery becomes increasingly and - as Italy moves into war - more tightly intertwined with the fortunes of Florence, the city he has made his home. And at every turn, he comes up against the local Blackshirt leader, the brutal Mario Carita. Episode 3 (of 10) The party at the British Institute to celebrate the coronation of King George VI doesn't go according to plan. Alex Preston lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was selected as one of Waterstones New Voices 2010. His second, The Revelations, was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Alex is a journalist and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Reader: Carl Prekopp Abridger: Jeremy Osborne Produced by Rosalynd Ward The party to celebrate the coronation of King George VI does not go according to plan. |
| 04 | 20141127 | '[He] unfolds a portrait of himself in gouache [...] It is a good likeness, he thinks, if a little tragic, and big-eared. She has drawn a man - given him something to grow into.' Esmond Lowndes's father is a leading light in the British Union Of Fascists. In 1937, Esmond is sent down from Cambridge in disgrace and dispatched instead to Florence to set up Radio Firenze - an English-language radio station aiming to form closer ties between Fascists in Italy and England. Esmond finds love and loss, and his journey of self-discovery becomes increasingly and - as Italy moves into war - more tightly intertwined with the fortunes of Florence, the city he has made his home. And at every turn, he comes up against the local Blackshirt leader, the brutal Mario Carita. Episode 4 (of 10) While Goad recovers in hospital after Carita's attack, Esmond falls under the spell of Fiamma and Goad's son, Gerald. Alex Preston lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was selected as one of Waterstones New Voices 2010. His second, The Revelations, was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Alex is a journalist and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Reader: Carl Prekopp Abridger: Jeremy Osborne Produced by Rosalynd Ward While Goad recovers, Esmond falls under the spell of Fiamma and Goad's son, Gerald. |
| 05 | 20141128 | '[He] unfolds a portrait of himself in gouache [...] It is a good likeness, he thinks, if a little tragic, and big-eared. She has drawn a man - given him something to grow into.' Esmond Lowndes's father is a leading light in the British Union Of Fascists. In 1937, Esmond is sent down from Cambridge in disgrace and dispatched instead to Florence to set up Radio Firenze - an English-language radio station aiming to form closer ties between Fascists in Italy and England. Esmond finds love and loss, and his journey of self-discovery becomes increasingly and - as Italy moves into war - more tightly intertwined with the fortunes of Florence, the city he has made his home. And at every turn, he comes up against the local Blackshirt leader, the brutal Mario Carita. Episode 5 (of 10) Borrowing Father Bailey's car, Esmond, Gerald and Fiamma help Norman Douglas to flee from Florence. Alex Preston lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was selected as one of Waterstones New Voices 2010. His second, The Revelations, was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Alex is a journalist and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Reader: Carl Prekopp Abridger: Jeremy Osborne Produced by Rosalynd Ward |
| 06 | 20141201 | 'He [...] unfolds a portrait of himself in gouache [...] It is a good likeness, he thinks, if a little tragic, and big-eared. She has drawn a man - given him something to grow into.' Esmond Lowndes's father is a leading light in the British Union Of Fascists. In 1937, Esmond is sent down from Cambridge in disgrace and dispatched instead to Florence to set up Radio Firenze - an English-language radio station aiming to form closer ties between Fascists in Italy and England. Esmond finds love and loss, and his journey of self-discovery becomes increasingly and - as Italy moves into war - more tightly intertwined with the fortunes of Florence, the city he has made his home. And at every turn, he comes up against the local Blackshirt leader, the brutal Mario Carita. Episode 6 (of 10) Esmond receives bad news from England and learns more about Father Bailey and, especially, Ada. Alex Preston lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was selected as one of Waterstones New Voices 2010. His second, The Revelations, was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Alex is a journalist and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Abridger: Jeremy Osborne Produced by Rosalynd Ward Esmond receives bad news from England and learns more about Father Bailey and Ada. |
| 07 | 20141202 | 'He [...] unfolds a portrait of himself in gouache [...] It is a good likeness, he thinks, if a little tragic, and big-eared. She has drawn a man - given him something to grow into.' Esmond Lowndes's father is a leading light in the British Union Of Fascists. In 1937, Esmond is sent down from Cambridge in disgrace and dispatched instead to Florence to set up Radio Firenze - an English-language radio station aiming to form closer ties between Fascists in Italy and England. Esmond finds love and loss, and his journey of self-discovery becomes increasingly and - as Italy moves into war - more tightly intertwined with the fortunes of Florence, the city he has made his home. And at every turn, he comes up against the local Blackshirt leader, the brutal Mario Carita. Episode 7 (of 10) As the world is plunged even deeper into war, Esmond and Ada travel to the coast on a mission for the Resistance. Alex Preston lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was selected as one of Waterstones New Voices 2010. His second, The Revelations, was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Alex is a journalist and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Abridger: Jeremy Osborne Produced by Rosalynd Ward |
| 08 | 20141203 | '[He] unfolds a portrait of himself in gouache [...] It is a good likeness, he thinks, if a little tragic, and big-eared. She has drawn a man - given him something to grow into.' Esmond Lowndes's father is a leading light in the British Union Of Fascists. In 1937, Esmond is sent down from Cambridge in disgrace and dispatched instead to Florence to set up Radio Firenze - an English-language radio station aiming to form closer ties between Fascists in Italy and England. Esmond finds love and loss, and his journey of self-discovery becomes increasingly and - as Italy moves into war - more tightly intertwined with the fortunes of Florence, the city he has made his home. And at every turn, he comes up against the local Blackshirt leader, the brutal Mario Carita. Episode 8 (of 10) With Florence now under occupation by the Germans, the Resistance steps up its operations to get the Jewish population to safety. Alex Preston lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was selected as one of Waterstones New Voices 2010. His second, The Revelations, was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Alex is a journalist and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Reader: Carl Prekopp Abridger: Jeremy Osborne Produced by Rosalynd Ward With Florence now under occupation by the Germans, the Resistance steps up its operations. |
| 09 | 20141204 | '[He] unfolds a portrait of himself in gouache [...] It is a good likeness, he thinks, if a little tragic, and big-eared. She has drawn a man - given him something to grow into.' Esmond Lowndes's father is a leading light in the British Union Of Fascists. In 1937, Esmond is sent down from Cambridge in disgrace and dispatched instead to Florence to set up Radio Firenze - an English-language radio station aiming to form closer ties between Fascists in Italy and England. Esmond finds love and loss, and his journey of self-discovery becomes increasingly and - as Italy moves into war - more tightly intertwined with the fortunes of Florence, the city he has made his home. And at every turn, he comes up against the local Blackshirt leader, the brutal Mario Carita. Episode 9 (of 10) As the struggle for Florence becomes bloodier by the day, so does Esmond and Ada's work for the Resistance. Alex Preston lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was selected as one of Waterstones New Voices 2010. His second, The Revelations, was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Alex is a journalist and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Reader: Carl Prekopp Abridger: Jeremy Osborne Produced by Rosalynd Ward Esmond and Ada's work for the Resistance takes a bloodier turn. |
| 10 | 20141205 | '[He] unfolds a portrait of himself in gouache [...] It is a good likeness, he thinks, if a little tragic, and big-eared. She has drawn a man - given him something to grow into.' Esmond Lowndes's father is a leading light in the British Union Of Fascists. In 1937, Esmond is sent down from Cambridge in disgrace and dispatched instead to Florence to set up Radio Firenze - an English-language radio station aiming to form closer ties between Fascists in Italy and England. Esmond finds love and loss, and his journey of self-discovery becomes increasingly and - as Italy moves into war - more tightly intertwined with the fortunes of Florence, the city he has made his home. And at every turn, he comes up against the local Blackshirt leader, the brutal Mario Carita. Episode 10 (of 10) With the Allies getting ever closer to Florence, Esmond and Bruno attempt a daring rescue mission at Blackshirt headquarters. Alex Preston lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was selected as one of Waterstones New Voices 2010. His second, The Revelations, was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Alex is a journalist and a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Reader: Carl Prekopp Abridger: Jeremy Osborne Produced by Rosalynd Ward Esmond and Bruno attempt a rescue at Blackshirt headquarters. |