A Town Called Solace By Mary Lawson

Episode

First
Broadcast

Comments

20221212

The tenderness and tragedy of everyday lives in a backwater town in 1970s Ontario. Mary Lawson's book was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021.

Clara's sister is missing. Angry, rebellious Rose, had a row with their mother, stormed out of the house and simply disappeared. Eight-year-old Clara, isolated by her distraught parents' efforts to protect her from the truth, is grief-stricken and bewildered.

Liam Kane, newly divorced, newly unemployed, newly arrived in this small northern town, moves into the house next door, a house left to him by an old woman he can barely remember and within hours gets a visit from the police. It seems he's suspected of a crime.

At the end of her life Elizabeth Orchard is thinking about a crime too, one committed 30 years ago that had tragic consequences for two families and in particular for one small child. She desperately wants to make amends before she dies.

Set in Northern Ontario in 1972, A Town Called Solace explores the relationships of these three people brought together by fate and the mistakes of the past. By turns gripping and darkly funny, it uncovers the layers of grief and remorse and love that connect us.

Read by

Genevieve Gaunt

Susan Brown and

Alec Newman

Abridged by Florence Bedell

Produced by Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4

Clara sees a strange man in Mrs Orchard's house as she watches for her missing sister.

20221213

The tenderness and tragedy of everyday lives in a backwater town in 1970s Ontario. Mary Lawson's book was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021.

Read by

Genevieve Gaunt

Susan Brown and

Alec Newman

Abridged by Florence Bedell

Produced by Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4

Elizabeth discovers she won't ever be going home whilst Clara still longs for her sister.

20221214

The tenderness and tragedy of everyday lives in a backwater town in 1970s Ontario. Mary Lawson's book was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021.

Read by

Genevieve Gaunt

Susan Brown and

Alec Newman

Abridged by Florence Bedell

Produced by Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4

Liam can't seem to leave Solace and finds himself helping the little girl next door, Clara

20221215

The tenderness and tragedy of everyday lives in a backwater town in 1970s Ontario. Mary Lawson's book was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021.

Read by

Genevieve Gaunt

Susan Brown and

Alec Newman

Abridged by Florence Bedell

Produced by Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4

Rose is finally found, but it's not exactly the happy homecoming Clara had hoped for.

20221216

The tenderness and tragedy of everyday lives in a backwater town in 1970s Ontario. Mary Lawson's book was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021.

Read by

Genevieve Gaunt

Susan Brown and

Alec Newman

Abridged by Florence Bedell

Produced by Clive Brill

A Brill production for BBC Radio 4

Elizabeth finally accepts her past as we learn of the scandal that almost broke her.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20221212	The tenderness and tragedy of everyday lives in a backwater town in 1970s Ontario. Mary Lawson's book was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021. Clara's sister is missing. Angry, rebellious Rose, had a row with their mother, stormed out of the house and simply disappeared. Eight-year-old Clara, isolated by her distraught parents' efforts to protect her from the truth, is grief-stricken and bewildered. Liam Kane, newly divorced, newly unemployed, newly arrived in this small northern town, moves into the house next door, a house left to him by an old woman he can barely remember and within hours gets a visit from the police. It seems he's suspected of a crime. At the end of her life Elizabeth Orchard is thinking about a crime too, one committed 30 years ago that had tragic consequences for two families and in particular for one small child. She desperately wants to make amends before she dies. Set in Northern Ontario in 1972, A Town Called Solace explores the relationships of these three people brought together by fate and the mistakes of the past. By turns gripping and darkly funny, it uncovers the layers of grief and remorse and love that connect us. Read by Genevieve Gaunt Susan Brown and Alec Newman Abridged by Florence Bedell Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Clara sees a strange man in Mrs Orchard's house as she watches for her missing sister.
02	20221213	The tenderness and tragedy of everyday lives in a backwater town in 1970s Ontario. Mary Lawson's book was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021. Clara's sister is missing. Angry, rebellious Rose, had a row with their mother, stormed out of the house and simply disappeared. Eight-year-old Clara, isolated by her distraught parents' efforts to protect her from the truth, is grief-stricken and bewildered. Liam Kane, newly divorced, newly unemployed, newly arrived in this small northern town, moves into the house next door, a house left to him by an old woman he can barely remember and within hours gets a visit from the police. It seems he's suspected of a crime. At the end of her life Elizabeth Orchard is thinking about a crime too, one committed 30 years ago that had tragic consequences for two families and in particular for one small child. She desperately wants to make amends before she dies. Set in Northern Ontario in 1972, A Town Called Solace explores the relationships of these three people brought together by fate and the mistakes of the past. By turns gripping and darkly funny, it uncovers the layers of grief and remorse and love that connect us. Read by Genevieve Gaunt Susan Brown and Alec Newman Abridged by Florence Bedell Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Elizabeth discovers she won't ever be going home whilst Clara still longs for her sister.
03	20221214	The tenderness and tragedy of everyday lives in a backwater town in 1970s Ontario. Mary Lawson's book was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021. Clara's sister is missing. Angry, rebellious Rose, had a row with their mother, stormed out of the house and simply disappeared. Eight-year-old Clara, isolated by her distraught parents' efforts to protect her from the truth, is grief-stricken and bewildered. Liam Kane, newly divorced, newly unemployed, newly arrived in this small northern town, moves into the house next door, a house left to him by an old woman he can barely remember and within hours gets a visit from the police. It seems he's suspected of a crime. At the end of her life Elizabeth Orchard is thinking about a crime too, one committed 30 years ago that had tragic consequences for two families and in particular for one small child. She desperately wants to make amends before she dies. Set in Northern Ontario in 1972, A Town Called Solace explores the relationships of these three people brought together by fate and the mistakes of the past. By turns gripping and darkly funny, it uncovers the layers of grief and remorse and love that connect us. Read by Genevieve Gaunt Susan Brown and Alec Newman Abridged by Florence Bedell Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Liam can't seem to leave Solace and finds himself helping the little girl next door, Clara
04	20221215	The tenderness and tragedy of everyday lives in a backwater town in 1970s Ontario. Mary Lawson's book was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021. Clara's sister is missing. Angry, rebellious Rose, had a row with their mother, stormed out of the house and simply disappeared. Eight-year-old Clara, isolated by her distraught parents' efforts to protect her from the truth, is grief-stricken and bewildered. Liam Kane, newly divorced, newly unemployed, newly arrived in this small northern town, moves into the house next door, a house left to him by an old woman he can barely remember and within hours gets a visit from the police. It seems he's suspected of a crime. At the end of her life Elizabeth Orchard is thinking about a crime too, one committed 30 years ago that had tragic consequences for two families and in particular for one small child. She desperately wants to make amends before she dies. Set in Northern Ontario in 1972, A Town Called Solace explores the relationships of these three people brought together by fate and the mistakes of the past. By turns gripping and darkly funny, it uncovers the layers of grief and remorse and love that connect us. Read by Genevieve Gaunt Susan Brown and Alec Newman Abridged by Florence Bedell Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Rose is finally found, but it's not exactly the happy homecoming Clara had hoped for.
05	20221216	The tenderness and tragedy of everyday lives in a backwater town in 1970s Ontario. Mary Lawson's book was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021. Clara's sister is missing. Angry, rebellious Rose, had a row with their mother, stormed out of the house and simply disappeared. Eight-year-old Clara, isolated by her distraught parents' efforts to protect her from the truth, is grief-stricken and bewildered. Liam Kane, newly divorced, newly unemployed, newly arrived in this small northern town, moves into the house next door, a house left to him by an old woman he can barely remember and within hours gets a visit from the police. It seems he's suspected of a crime. At the end of her life Elizabeth Orchard is thinking about a crime too, one committed 30 years ago that had tragic consequences for two families and in particular for one small child. She desperately wants to make amends before she dies. Set in Northern Ontario in 1972, A Town Called Solace explores the relationships of these three people brought together by fate and the mistakes of the past. By turns gripping and darkly funny, it uncovers the layers of grief and remorse and love that connect us. Read by Genevieve Gaunt Susan Brown and Alec Newman Abridged by Florence Bedell Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Elizabeth finally accepts her past as we learn of the scandal that almost broke her.