Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Threatened | 20181203 | 2016: Willa discovers that most of what she has founded her life upon is under threat. There is bad news about her family home but tragedy is just around the corner. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Abridged in fifteen parts by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Barbara Kingsolver is the bestselling author of The Poisonwood Bible, The Lacuna and Flight Behaviour. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow |
| 02 | Intrigue | 20181204 | 1874: Thatcher Greenwood has to break the news to his wife that their house is in a perilous state. Meanwhile the curious behaviour their neighbour, the scientist Mary Treat, displays becomes fascinating to them. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane Thatcher Greenwood's house is a state while the neighbour's curious behaviour intrigues. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow |
| 03 | Clashing | 20181205 | 2016. The roof of Willa's house is being patched together and over dinner her daughter and son clash in a fundamental disagreement about politics and the shape of the future. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane 2016. Willa's children clash in a disagreement about politics and the shape of the future. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow |
| 04 | Neighbour | 20181206 | 1874: Thatcher Greenwood visits his intriguing neighbour, a scientist in correspondence with Charles Darwin, undertaking unusual scientific experiments in her home. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane 1874: Thatcher visits his intriguing neighbour Mary Treat, who's engaged in an experiment. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow |
| 05 | Appointment | 20181207 | 2016: Willa clashes with her father-in-law when she accompanies him to a medical appointment. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane 2016: Willa clashes with her father-in-law when she takes him to a medical appointment. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow |
| 06 | 20181210 | 1874: Thatcher tries to address the issue of his disintegrating home. 2016: Willa tries to uncover a source of income to shore up her equally rundown house. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Abridged in fifteen parts by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow | |
| 07 | 20181211 | 1874. Thatcher's progressive views on science antagonise his conservative headmaster. 2016. Differences of opinion about the presidential candidate cause tension in Willa's family. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane. Molecules and politics cause tension between progressive and conservative thinkers. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow | |
| 08 | 20181212 | 1874: News of Thatcher's feud with headmaster Cutler over Darwin has reached the town. Thatcher is warned by renegade newspaper editor, Uri Carruth. 2016: Tig hatches plans for the future. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane 1874: News of Thatcher's feud with his headmaster over Darwin's views has reached town. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow | |
| 09 | 20181213 | Supported by Mary Treat and his sister-in-law, Polly, Thatcher takes part in a public debate billed as Darwin versus Decency. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow | |
| 10 | 20181214 | 2016: Willa discovers that a person of interest may have lived in her house in the past. 1875: An infamous shooting takes place in Vineland. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane. Willa uncovers the history of her house while in 1875 an infamous shooting takes place. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow | |
| 11 | 20181217 | 1875: Thatcher tries to come to terms with the shooting of Uri Carruth. 2016: Willa's father-in-law, Nick, requests an unusual outing. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Patrick Kennedy and Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow | |
| 12 | 20181218 | 2016: Willa and Tig conspire on a secret mission and there is further bad news about the house. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow | |
| 13 | 20181219 | 1870s: Thatcher has to choose sides - with terrible consequences. 2016: Willa and Tig go on their secret mission. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Patrick Kennedy and Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow | |
| 14 | 20181220 | 2016: Ultimately, Willa can't save her house but there is good news and hope for the future. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow | |
| 15 | 20181221 | Unexpected treasures are uncovered as both Willa and Thatcher face the future. Barbara Kingsolver's novel interweaves the past and the present to explore the human capacity for resilience and compassion in times of great upheaval. It is a portrait of life in precarious times - when characters discover that the past has failed to prepare them for the future. Alternating between two centuries, Kingsolver examines the personal and social shocks that ensue when people's assumptions about the world and their place in it are shaken to their foundations. Concluded by Patrick Kennedy and Laurel Lefkow. Producer: Gaynor Macfarlane. Novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Abridged by Sian Preece. Read by Laurel Lefkow |