Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20240408 | The explosive literary sensation and winner of the 2023 Booker Prize. As read by Clare Dunne (‘Kin.') On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB – the Garda National Service Bureau – on her step. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist. Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? The Author Paul Lynch is the prize-winning author of five novels: ‘Prophet Song', ‘Beyond the Sea', ‘Grace', ‘The Black Snow', and ‘Red Sky in Morning'. He was awarded The Booker Prize 2023 for his esteemed novel ‘Prophet Song'. He has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the French booksellers' prize Prix Libr'à Nous for best foreign novel. He has also been shortlisted for UK's Walter Scott Prize, the US's William Saroyan International Prize, and France's Prix Jean Monnet for European Literature and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, among other prizes. Libération has called Lynch “one of today's greatest Irish writers ?. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children. Reader: Clare Dunne Author: Paul Lynch Abridger: Rowan Routh Producer: Michael Shannon A BBC Audio Northern Ireland Production for BBC Radio 4. Eilish Stack is shocked to find the police on her doorstep. A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Clare Dunne reads Mother of four Eilish Stack answers her front door to two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police – the Garda National Service Bureau – asking for her husband. |
| 02 | 20240409 | The explosive literary sensation and winner of the 2023 Booker Prize. As read by Clare Dunne (‘Kin.') On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB – the Garda National Service Bureau – on her step. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist. Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? The Author Paul Lynch is the prize-winning author of five novels: ‘Prophet Song', ‘Beyond the Sea', ‘Grace', ‘The Black Snow', and ‘Red Sky in Morning'. He was awarded The Booker Prize 2023 for his esteemed novel ‘Prophet Song'. He has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the French booksellers' prize Prix Libr'à Nous for best foreign novel. He has also been shortlisted for UK's Walter Scott Prize, the US's William Saroyan International Prize, and France's Prix Jean Monnet for European Literature and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, among other prizes. Libération has called Lynch “one of today's greatest Irish writers ?. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children. Reader: Clare Dunne Author: Paul Lynch Abridger: Rowan Routh Producer: Michael Shannon A BBC Audio Northern Ireland Production for BBC Radio 4. Eilish searches for her husband. A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Clare Dunne reads Following her husband's disappearance, Eilish tries to maintain a sense of normality for her children. |
| 03 | 20240410 | The explosive literary sensation and winner of the 2023 Booker Prize. As read by Clare Dunne (‘Kin.') On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB – the Garda National Service Bureau – on her step. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist. Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? The Author Paul Lynch is the prize-winning author of five novels: ‘Prophet Song', ‘Beyond the Sea', ‘Grace', ‘The Black Snow', and ‘Red Sky in Morning'. He was awarded The Booker Prize 2023 for his esteemed novel ‘Prophet Song'. He has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the French booksellers' prize Prix Libr'à Nous for best foreign novel. He has also been shortlisted for UK's Walter Scott Prize, the US's William Saroyan International Prize, and France's Prix Jean Monnet for European Literature and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, among other prizes. Libération has called Lynch “one of today's greatest Irish writers ?. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children. Reader: Clare Dunne Author: Paul Lynch Abridger: Rowan Routh Producer: Michael Shannon A BBC Audio Northern Ireland Production for BBC Radio 4. A letter for her eldest son brings a new threat to Eilish's family. A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Clare Dunne reads A peaceful protest is staged in Dublin but Eilish insists her family keep their heads down. |
| 04 | 20240411 | The explosive literary sensation and winner of the 2023 Booker Prize. As read by Clare Dunne (‘Kin.') On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB – the Garda National Service Bureau – on her step. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist. Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? The Author Paul Lynch is the prize-winning author of five novels: ‘Prophet Song', ‘Beyond the Sea', ‘Grace', ‘The Black Snow', and ‘Red Sky in Morning'. He was awarded The Booker Prize 2023 for his esteemed novel ‘Prophet Song'. He has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the French booksellers' prize Prix Libr'à Nous for best foreign novel. He has also been shortlisted for UK's Walter Scott Prize, the US's William Saroyan International Prize, and France's Prix Jean Monnet for European Literature and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, among other prizes. Libération has called Lynch “one of today's greatest Irish writers ?. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children. Reader: Clare Dunne Author: Paul Lynch Abridger: Rowan Routh Producer: Michael Shannon A BBC Audio Northern Ireland Production for BBC Radio 4. Eilish takes action to protect her eldest child. A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Clare Dunne reads Desperate to protect her 16-year-old son Mark, Eilish takes up Carole's offer. |
| 05 | 20240412 | The explosive literary sensation and winner of the 2023 Booker Prize. As read by Clare Dunne (‘Kin.') On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB – the Garda National Service Bureau – on her step. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist. Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? The Author Paul Lynch is the prize-winning author of five novels: ‘Prophet Song', ‘Beyond the Sea', ‘Grace', ‘The Black Snow', and ‘Red Sky in Morning'. He was awarded The Booker Prize 2023 for his esteemed novel ‘Prophet Song'. He has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the French booksellers' prize Prix Libr'à Nous for best foreign novel. He has also been shortlisted for UK's Walter Scott Prize, the US's William Saroyan International Prize, and France's Prix Jean Monnet for European Literature and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, among other prizes. Libération has called Lynch “one of today's greatest Irish writers ?. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children. Reader: Clare Dunne Author: Paul Lynch Abridger: Rowan Routh Producer: Michael Shannon A BBC Audio Northern Ireland Production for BBC Radio 4. The Stack family's home is attacked. A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Clare Dunne reads The Stack family are denounced as traitors to the state. |
| 06 | 20240415 | The explosive literary sensation and winner of the 2023 Booker Prize. As read by Clare Dunne (‘Kin.') On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB – the Garda National Service Bureau – on her step. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist. Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? The Author Paul Lynch is the prize-winning author of five novels: ‘Prophet Song', ‘Beyond the Sea', ‘Grace', ‘The Black Snow', and ‘Red Sky in Morning'. He was awarded The Booker Prize 2023 for his esteemed novel ‘Prophet Song'. He has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the French booksellers' prize Prix Libr'à Nous for best foreign novel. He has also been shortlisted for UK's Walter Scott Prize, the US's William Saroyan International Prize, and France's Prix Jean Monnet for European Literature and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, among other prizes. Libération has called Lynch “one of today's greatest Irish writers ?. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children. Reader: Clare Dunne Author: Paul Lynch Abridger: Rowan Routh Producer: Michael Shannon A BBC Audio Northern Ireland Production for BBC Radio 4. War comes to Dublin. A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Clare Dunne reads In a city that has become a warzone, Eilish must protect her family. |
| 07 | 20240416 | The explosive literary sensation and winner of the 2023 Booker Prize. As read by Clare Dunne (‘Kin.') On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB – the Garda National Service Bureau – on her step. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist. Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? The Author Paul Lynch is the prize-winning author of five novels: ‘Prophet Song', ‘Beyond the Sea', ‘Grace', ‘The Black Snow', and ‘Red Sky in Morning'. He was awarded The Booker Prize 2023 for his esteemed novel ‘Prophet Song'. He has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the French booksellers' prize Prix Libr'à Nous for best foreign novel. He has also been shortlisted for UK's Walter Scott Prize, the US's William Saroyan International Prize, and France's Prix Jean Monnet for European Literature and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, among other prizes. Libération has called Lynch “one of today's greatest Irish writers ?. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children. Reader: Clare Dunne Author: Paul Lynch Abridger: Rowan Routh Producer: Michael Shannon A BBC Audio Northern Ireland Production for BBC Radio 4. In a besieged city, Eilish struggles to keep her family together. A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Clare Dunne reads An unexpected visitor arrives at the Stack home and offers to help them escape. |
| 08 | 20240417 | The explosive literary sensation and winner of the 2023 Booker Prize. As read by Clare Dunne (‘Kin.') On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB – the Garda National Service Bureau – on her step. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist. Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? The Author Paul Lynch is the prize-winning author of five novels: ‘Prophet Song', ‘Beyond the Sea', ‘Grace', ‘The Black Snow', and ‘Red Sky in Morning'. He was awarded The Booker Prize 2023 for his esteemed novel ‘Prophet Song'. He has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the French booksellers' prize Prix Libr'à Nous for best foreign novel. He has also been shortlisted for UK's Walter Scott Prize, the US's William Saroyan International Prize, and France's Prix Jean Monnet for European Literature and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, among other prizes. Libération has called Lynch “one of today's greatest Irish writers ?. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children. Reader: Clare Dunne Author: Paul Lynch Abridger: Rowan Routh Producer: Michael Shannon A BBC Audio Northern Ireland Production for BBC Radio 4. As airstrikes on Dublin continue, the Stack family take refuge indoors. A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Clare Dunne reads As the fighting across the city intensifies, Eilish battles to keep her children safe. |
| 09 | 20240418 | The explosive literary sensation and winner of the 2023 Booker Prize. As read by Clare Dunne (‘Kin.') On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB – the Garda National Service Bureau – on her step. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist. Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? The Author Paul Lynch is the prize-winning author of five novels: ‘Prophet Song', ‘Beyond the Sea', ‘Grace', ‘The Black Snow', and ‘Red Sky in Morning'. He was awarded The Booker Prize 2023 for his esteemed novel ‘Prophet Song'. He has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the French booksellers' prize Prix Libr'à Nous for best foreign novel. He has also been shortlisted for UK's Walter Scott Prize, the US's William Saroyan International Prize, and France's Prix Jean Monnet for European Literature and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, among other prizes. Libération has called Lynch “one of today's greatest Irish writers ?. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children. Reader: Clare Dunne Author: Paul Lynch Abridger: Rowan Routh Producer: Michael Shannon A BBC Audio Northern Ireland Production for BBC Radio 4. In the morning, Eilish returns to the hospital. A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Clare Dunne reads Having made it back across the city to the hospital, Eilish tries to find her son Bailey. |
| 10 | 20240419 | The explosive literary sensation and winner of the 2023 Booker Prize. As read by Clare Dunne (‘Kin.') On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB – the Garda National Service Bureau – on her step. Two officers from Ireland's newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist. Ireland is falling apart. The country is in the grip of a government turning towards tyranny and Eilish finds herself caught within the nightmare logic of a society that is quickly unravelling. How far will she go to save her family? And what – or who – is she willing to leave behind? The Author Paul Lynch is the prize-winning author of five novels: ‘Prophet Song', ‘Beyond the Sea', ‘Grace', ‘The Black Snow', and ‘Red Sky in Morning'. He was awarded The Booker Prize 2023 for his esteemed novel ‘Prophet Song'. He has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and the French booksellers' prize Prix Libr'à Nous for best foreign novel. He has also been shortlisted for UK's Walter Scott Prize, the US's William Saroyan International Prize, and France's Prix Jean Monnet for European Literature and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, among other prizes. Libération has called Lynch “one of today's greatest Irish writers ?. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children. Reader: Clare Dunne Author: Paul Lynch Abridger: Rowan Routh Producer: Michael Shannon A BBC Audio Northern Ireland Production for BBC Radio 4. Eilish takes her family on a dangerous journey. A mother faces a terrible choice as Ireland slides into totalitarianism. Clare Dunne reads As the situation grows dire, the Stack family make a risky bid for freedom. |