Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20220321 | In mid-1920s America, the Harlem renaissance of black culture and society may be underway but racism still runs deep through the habits and laws of the country. Clare Kendry has severed all ties to her impoverished past in the black community of Chicago. Elegant, fair-skinned and ambitious, she is now married to a wealthy white man who is unaware of her African-American heritage. When she renews her acquaintance with her childhood friend Irene, who is similarly light skinned but has not hidden her background, both women are forced to reassess their friendship and loyalties. Nella Larsen's intense and psychologically nuanced portrayal of lives and identities dangerously colliding, first published in 1929, has recently found new audiences in the cinema and now also as an English literature A -level set text. Written by Nella Larsen Read by Ayesha Antoine Abridged by Isobel Creed Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Chicago in 1925. Two women, childhood friends, are reacquainted by a chance meeting. Nella Larsen's intense, taut portrayal of lives and identities dangerously colliding. |
| 02 | 20220322 | In mid-1920s America, the Harlem renaissance of black culture and society may be underway but racism still runs deep through the habits and laws of the country. Clare Kendry has severed all ties to her impoverished past in the black community of Chicago. Elegant, fair-skinned and ambitious, she is now married to a wealthy white man who is unaware of her African-American heritage. When she renews her acquaintance with her childhood friend Irene, who is similarly light skinned but has not hidden her background, both women are forced to reassess their friendship and loyalties. Nella Larsen's intense and psychologically nuanced portrayal of lives and identities dangerously colliding, first published in 1929, has recently found new audiences in the cinema and now also as an English literature A -level set text. Written by Nella Larsen Read by Ayesha Antoine Abridged by Isobel Creed Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Irene is determined to ignore Clare Kendry but underestimates her persistence. Nella Larsen's intense, taut portrayal of lives and identities dangerously colliding. |
| 03 | 20220323 | In mid-1920s America, the Harlem renaissance of black culture and society may be underway but racism still runs deep through the habits and laws of the country. Clare Kendry has severed all ties to her impoverished past in the black community of Chicago. Elegant, fair-skinned and ambitious, she is now married to a wealthy white man who is unaware of her African-American heritage. When she renews her acquaintance with her childhood friend Irene, who is similarly light skinned but has not hidden her background, both women are forced to reassess their friendship and loyalties. Nella Larsen's intense and psychologically nuanced portrayal of lives and identities dangerously colliding, first published in 1929, has recently found new audiences in the cinema and now also as an English literature A -level set text. Written by Nella Larsen Read by Ayesha Antoine Abridged by Isobel Creed Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Two years after meeting Clare Kendry in Chicago, Irene Redfield receives a letter. Nella Larsen's intense, taut portrayal of lives and identities dangerously colliding. |
| 04 | 20220324 | In mid-1920s America, the Harlem renaissance of black culture and society may be underway but racism still runs deep through the habits and laws of the country. Clare Kendry has severed all ties to her impoverished past in the black community of Chicago. Elegant, fair-skinned and ambitious, she is now married to a wealthy white man who is unaware of her African-American heritage. When she renews her acquaintance with her childhood friend Irene, who is similarly light skinned but has not hidden her background, both women are forced to reassess their friendship and loyalties. Nella Larsen's intense and psychologically nuanced portrayal of lives and identities dangerously colliding, first published in 1929, has recently found new audiences in the cinema and now also as an English literature A -level set text. Written by Nella Larsen Read by Ayesha Antoine Abridged by Isobel Creed Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Welcoming Clare into her busy New York life has brought turmoil for Irene. Nella Larsen's intense, taut portrayal of lives and identities dangerously colliding. |
| 05 | 20220325 | In mid-1920s America, the Harlem renaissance of black culture and society may be underway but racism still runs deep through the habits and laws of the country. Clare Kendry has severed all ties to her impoverished past in the black community of Chicago. Elegant, fair-skinned and ambitious, she is now married to a wealthy white man who is unaware of her African-American heritage. When she renews her acquaintance with her childhood friend Irene, who is similarly light skinned but has not hidden her background, both women are forced to reassess their friendship and loyalties. Nella Larsen's intense and psychologically nuanced portrayal of lives and identities dangerously colliding, first published in 1929, has recently found new audiences in the cinema and now also as an English literature A -level set text. Written by Nella Larsen Read by Ayesha Antoine Abridged by Isobel Creed Produced by Jill Waters A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4 Irene and Felise encounter John Bellew in the street. Nella Larsen's intense, taut portrayal of lives and identities dangerously colliding. |