Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Flanders, 1914 | 20120116 | Louisa Young's story explores the impact of unthinkable changes on five young people during the First World War. Many of the old certainties about class and women's roles are being swept away, but new and terrifying challenges are appearing. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths and read by Olivia Colman. Episode 1 : Flanders, 1914 It's 1914. Riley Purefoy, a North London working-class boy, arrives in Flanders and gets his first taste of the war. Having been cold-shouldered by the mother of the girl he loves - a girl from a very different social background - he feels he has nothing to lose. At the front, Riley learns some hard lessons about the war, but his ability with the men is rewarded with promotion. Produced by Christine Hall. Riley Purefoy, a North London working-class boy, gets his first taste of the war. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 02 | France And London | 20120117 | Louisa Young's story explores the impact of unthinkable changes on five young people during the First World War. Nothing in Riley Purefoy's short life could have prepared him for Flanders in 1914. The only joy he knows is his love for Nadine, and Nadine's mother has made it clear that this cannot have a future. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths and read by Olivia Colman. Episode 2: France and London Newly-promoted Riley Purefoy is in France. It's 1915 and he's about to return to the Front Line. Meanwhile in London, his girlfriend Nadine makes the decision to become a nurse. Her mother still won't countenance the idea that she and Riley could have any future together. Produced by Christine Hall. Riley Purefoy returns to the front line. In London, Nadine decides to become a nurse. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 03 | Peter, Julia And Rose | 20120118 | Louisa Young's story explores the impact of unthinkable changes on five young people during the First World War. Riley's experiences at the Front cause him to write in despair to Nadine I do not exist .. that is my protection from all this. But to Nadine, he is the only boy she wants and the one she worries about continually; their future as a couple seems appallingly fragile. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths and read by Olivia Colman. Episode 3: Peter, Julia and Rose 1915. The War continues to challenge both men and women. Rose Locke, a nursing auxiliary, and her relative Julia - who has no occupation other than being beautiful - are discovering that all the old certainties about their lives are gone. For Rose, this is liberating; for Julia, it is an unlooked-for education in what a man is capable of when he has been brutalised. Produced by Christine Hall. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 04 | Love And Duty | 20120119 | Louisa Young's story explores the impact of unthinkable changes on five young people during the First World War. Rose Locke, plain and capable, is at last released from the indignity of not being marriageable and has volunteered to be a nurse. Meanwhile, her cousin's wife Julia, ornamental and helpless, has been horrified by what the war has done to her husband. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths and read by Olivia Colman. Episode 4: Love and duty On leave in London, Riley meets Nadine again after three years; they renew their love for and commitment to one another. Riley returns to France and has to deal with an outbreak of sheer terror among the men; there is about to be a very big military operation. Produced by Christine Hall. On leave in London, Riley meets Nadine again after three years. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 05 | Consummation | 20120120 | The First World War brought changes unimaginable before 1914 to every aspect of life. Louisa Young's novel explores the impact on the lives of women, on the challenge to the Edwardian class structure and on assumptions about patriotism and duty. Episode 5: Consummation 1916. Riley leads his men through an important attack on German lines on the Somme, in which many men are lost. The following spring he meets Nadine again in London, and they are able at last to share the love which they have kept alive for so many years. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths Producer: Christine Hall. Riley leads his men through an important attack on German lines on the Somme. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 06 | Casualty | 20120123 | The First World War brought changes previously unimaginable to every aspect of life. Louisa Young's story explores the impact on the lives of women, on the challenge to the Edwardian class structure and on assumptions about patriotism and duty. Episode 6: Casualty Following a glorious interlude in London with Nadine, Riley is back in Flanders stumbling through the valley of the shadow of death. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths Producer Christine Hall. Following a glorious interlude in London with Nadine, Riley is back in Flanders. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 07 | Is This Cruel Enough? | 20120124 | The First World War brought changes previously unimaginable to every aspect of life. Louisa Young's story explores the impact on the lives of women, on the challenge to the Edwardian class structure and on assumptions about patriotism and duty. Episode 7 : Is this cruel enough? Riley has been seriously and hideously injured at Ypres and is being nursed by Rose Locke. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths Producer Christine Hall. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 08 | No Forwarding Address | 20120125 | The First World War brought changes previously unimaginable to every aspect of life. Louisa Young's story explores the impact on the lives of women, on the challenge to the Edwardian class structure and on assumptions about patriotism and duty. Episode 8: No forwarding address November 1917. Riley Purefoy, suffering horrific facial injuries, is in hospital undergoing reconstructive surgery and refusing to allow anyone from his old life to see him. He has told Nadine that his injuries are not serious but that he has met someone else and will not be returning to Nadine after the war. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths Producer Christine Hall. Suffering horrific facial injuries, Riley refuses to let anyone from his old life see him. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 09 | Be Of Good Cheer | 20120126 | The First World War brought changes previously unimaginable to every aspect of life. Louisa Young's story explores the impact on the lives of women, on the challenge to the Edwardian class structure and on assumptions about patriotism and duty. Episode 9: Be of good cheer November 1918. The Armistice forces Riley to think about his future. Though he has so far not left the hospital in Sidcup where his jaw has been rebuilt, he travels to Wigan to visit the widow of his old comrade Ainsworth. Encouraged by the matter-of-fact reactions of Sybil Ainsworth and her children to his shattered face, he returns to Sidcup and tells his surgeon that he is of good cheer. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths Producer Christine Hall. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 10 | The Lucky Ones | 20120127 | The First World War brought changes previously unimaginable to every aspect of life. Louisa Young's story explores the impact on the lives of women, on the challenge to the Edwardian class structure and on assumptions about patriotism and duty. Episode 10: The lucky ones At Christmas 1918, Riley Purefoy is out scouring the streets of London for his traumatised comrade Peter Locke. He finds him, very drunk, in a bar and takes him back to Locke Hill. By coincidence, Nadine - the girl who has always loved him but whom he has tried to turn away because he doesn't want to ruin her life - is spending Christmas there. Inevitably they are thrown together and after they have allowed themselves to be totally honest with each other, they realise that the one thing they can be sure of is each other, and agree to marry. Abridged by Lauris Morgan-Griffiths Producer Christine Hall. Christmas 1918. Riley scours the streets of London for his traumatised comrade Peter Locke Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |