Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20160215 | The first adult novel by Meg Rosoff, author of the bestselling Young Adult novel How I Live Now. Jonathan Trefoil has arrived in New York from college and is ready for his life to begin. He's found himself an apartment and he's temporarily in charge of his brother's dogs (Dante, a Border Collie, and Sissy, a Spaniel) while his brother is working in Dubai. His best friend Max gets him a job at Comrade, a marketing company run by one of their school friends. He has a smart girlfriend, Julie, who will join him once she's found work. Life seems good. But it isn't really, he's lost; a dreamer floundering. His creativity is stifled by the mind-numbing work at Comrade: thinking up pithy ways to sell a budget office supplies company's wares, which they always reject in favour of tried and tested slogans Pens: 3 for 2. He holds onto his sanity by writing a graphic novel The New York Inferno in which a Border Collie spirit guide accompanies a young poet through the nine circles of the New York underworld. Things gradually come to a head when Julie secures a job in her company's New York office and the different, unhappy strands of Jonathan's life begin to slowly unravel. Read by Rhashan Stone. Written by Meg Rosoff. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Jonathan Trefoil arrives in New York, ready to take on the world. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 02 | 20160216 | Rhashan Stone reads the new novel by Meg Rosoff, author of the bestselling How I Live Now. Set in New York, the novel follows graphic designer Jonathan Trefoil as he navigates big city life as a fully-fledged adult. Aided by canine companions Dante the collie and Sissy the spaniel - who've been left in his charge by his brother James - Jonathan wishes there was a book he could read (How To Be A Person) that would help him cope with his new responsibilities. Increasingly worn down by his mind-numbing job in a marketing company, the one bright spot on Jonathan's horizon is the imminent arrival of his girlfriend Julie. But what will she make of the tiny apartment he's found? And how will she get on with the dogs? Read by Rhashan Stone. Written by Meg Rosoff. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. Struggling with his job, Jonathan looks forward to being joined by girlfriend Julie. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 03 | 20160217 | The new novel by bestselling author Meg Rosoff, read by Rhashan Stone. Jonathan Trefoil has arrived in New York fresh from college and ready for his life to begin. He's found himself an apartment and he's temporarily in charge of his brother's dogs (Dante, a Border Collie, and Sissy, a Spaniel) while his brother is working in Dubai. His best friend Max has landed him a job at Comrade, a marketing company run by one of their school friends. He has a smart girlfriend, Julie, who has just joined him. Life is good... isn't it? Greeley, Comrade's new Office Manager, brings a brighter, healthier vibe to Jonathan's working life - even encouraging him to bring the dogs into work. But just as Jonathan begins to feel that he's getting on top of his new life, Julie floors him with a commercially sensible proposition. Written by Meg Rosoff. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. Julie shocks Jonathan with a commercially sensible proposition. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 04 | 20160218 | Bestselling author Meg Rosoff's new novel, set in New York, read by Rhashan Stone. Jonathan Trefoil has arrived in New York ready for his life to begin. He's found an apartment and is temporarily in charge of his brother's dogs (Dante, a Border Collie, and Sissy, a Spaniel) while his brother is working in Dubai. His best friend Max has got him a job at Comrade, a marketing company run by one of their school friends. He has a smart girlfriend, Julie, who has just joined him in the city. Life is good... isn't it? Julie's unexpected proposition, and his hasty acceptance, leaves Jonathan reeling. A visit to his parents doesn't quite go as planned and, back at work, as things unravel further, leading office manager Greeley to step in with some wise advice. Written by Meg Rosoff. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. Jonathan visits his parents and is surprised by their reaction to his big news. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 05 | 20160219 | Rhashan Stone reads the new novel by bestselling author Meg Rosoff. Moving to New York fresh from college, Jonathan Trefoil's new life as an adult with grown-up responsibilities is not going quite as planned. Although he knows it's a terrible idea, he has hastily accepted his girlfriend Julie's marriage proposal: she works for a wedding magazine and they've offered to pay for everything in return for live-streaming the ceremony and running a four-page spread in the next issue. Soon, the stress of his personal life spills over into his work and the only thing keeping him sane is the companionship of his brother's dogs, Dante and Sissy. Written by Meg Rosoff. Read by Rhashan Stone. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. As the wedding draws closer, Jonathan's sense of doom increases. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 06 | 20160222 | Rhashan Stone continues reading from the new novel by Meg Rosoff, her first for adults, Jonathan Unleashed. The story of a young man, Jonathan Trefoil who - aided by his canine companions Dante the collie and Sissy the spaniel - is struggling to navigate the responsibilities of adulthood and the demands of his new life in New York. Jonathan's stress levels are going through the roof. Increasingly unhappy at work, he has hastily accepted his girlfriend Julie's commercially sensible proposal: to get married and have everything paid for by her employer, Bridal-360, in exchange for an eight page spread in the magazine and permission to live-stream the ceremony online to an audience of 100,000. What could possibly go wrong? Read by Rhashan Stone. Written by Meg Rosoff. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. Jonathan is seriously stressed out by his forthcoming nuptials and a looming work deadline Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 07 | 20160223 | The new novel by Meg Rosoff, read by Rhashan Stone. It's the story of a young man, Jonathan Trefoil who - aided by his canine companions Dante the collie and Sissy the spaniel - is struggling to navigate the responsibilities of adulthood and the demands of his new life in New York. After his breakdown at work, Jonathan wakes up in hospital to discover that he's unable to form coherent sentences, generating random text instead. Neurologists are baffled by his case and there's little they can do except recommend strict bed rest. Julie is left responsible for the dogs and, during one of their walks, has a fateful meeting with a tall dark stranger. Written by Meg Rosoff. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. Jonathan's breakdown leaves him unable to form coherent sentences. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 08 | 20160224 | The new novel by Meg Rosoff, read by Rhashan Stone. It's the story of a young man, Jonathan Trefoil who - aided by his canine companions Dante the collie and Sissy the spaniel - is struggling to navigate the responsibilities of adulthood and the demands of his new life in New York. Jonathan and Julie's wedding day arrives. With her employer Bridal-360 organising everything (including live-streaming the ceremony to an audience of 100,000 viewers) and Jonathan still unable to form coherent sentences, what could possibly go wrong? Written by Meg Rosoff. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 09 | 20160225 | The new novel by Meg Rosoff, author of the bestselling How I Live Now. It's the story of a young man, Jonathan Trefoil who - assisted by his canine companions Dante the collie and Sissy the spaniel - is struggling to navigate the responsibilities of adulthood and the demands of his new life in New York. Cured of his speech problems after being jilted at the altar by Julie, Jonathan is ready to return to work at Comrade - despite the misgivings of his friend Max and work colleague Greeley. Read by Rhashan Stone. Written by Meg Rosoff. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. Dante and Sissy come to Jonathan's rescue once again. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 10 | 20160226 | Final instalment of the ten part abridgement of the new novel by Meg Rosoff, read by Rhashan Stone. Unemployed, single and starting to despair, Jonathan has asked his former colleague Greeley to help him find a new direction for his life. Accompanied by Dante the collie and Sissy the spaniel, the four leave New York behind for a weekend spent deep in the forest. While there, Jonathan receives a series of texts that suggest all is not lost with Dr Clare. Written by Meg Rosoff. Abridged by David Jackson Young. Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. Jonathan looks to Greeley to help him decide what to do next. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |