Rumer Godden: Black Narcissus, The Greengage Summer & The Dark Horse

Full-cast radio adaptations of three of Rumer Godden''s bestselling novels, plus a bonus interview with the authorRumer Godden is well known for her acclaimed novels for adults and children. She wrote over 60 works in her lifetime, nine of which were made into films. Included here are dramatisations of three of her classic tales, as well as a fascinating interview with the renowned author.Black Narcissus - A group of nuns establishing a remote mission in an old palace in the Himalayas is warned that it is no place for a nunnery. And as the Sisters'' tragic destiny unfolds, those prophetic words are soon proved right. Sinead Cusack and Lesley Sharp star in this atmospheric dramatisation of Godden''s 1939 novel, famously adapted as an Oscar-winning film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.The Greengage Summer - When their mother falls ill during a holiday to France, the Grey children are left to entertain themselves. Over the course of the long, hot summer, they are caught up in an adult world of deception and lies... Starring Ellie Beaven, Abigail Docherty and Michael Maloney.The Dark Horse - Set in Calcutta in 1933, this is the story of a thoroughbred racehorse, a jockey seeking a second chance, a shrewd Mother Superior and a miracle - all based on true events. Geoffrey Whitehead, Indira Varma, Dearbhla Molloy and Ioan Meredith star in this heartwarming drama.Third Ear - Recorded in 1992, this illuminating Radio 3 interview sees the octogenarian Rumer Godden talking to Geoffrey Baskerville about how her life and beliefs are reflected in her writing.Text copyright © The Rumer Godden Literary Trust 1939 (Black Narcissus), 1958 (The Greengage Summer), 1981 (The Dark Horse)Black NarcissusSister Clodagh - Sinead CusackSister Ruth - Lesley SharpMr Dean - David RintoulDilip Rai - Ronny JhuttiSister Briony - Susan EngelSister Philippa - Jenny LeeSister Honey - Rachel AtkinsThe General/Father Roberts - Sam DastorAyah - Indira JoshiMother Dorothea/Sister Adela - Carolyn JonesCon - Alastair DansonKanchi - Sumitra BhagatJoseph Anthony - Dhiraj PrasaiDramatised by April de AngelisMusic by Elizabeth ParkerDirected by Sally AvensFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 December 1997The Greengage SummerCecile - Ellie BeavenJoss - Abigail DochertyHester - Ciara JansonEliot - Michael MaloneyWith Luke Newbury, Claire Marchionne, Rachel Atkins, Theo Fraser Steele, Sean Baker, Jenny Lee, Brian Parr and Chris WrightDramatised by Dawn Lowe WatsonDirected by Sally AvensFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May 1988The Dark HorseSister Morag - Dearbhla MolloyLevantine - Nickolas GraceTed - Ioan MeredithJohn Quillan - Gareth ArmstrongWith Geoffrey Whitehead, Indira Varma, Siobhan Stamp, Frances Jeater, Nitin Chandra Ganatra, Richard Rees and David AntrobusDramatised by Liane AukinDirected by David HunterFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 September 1988Third EarPresented by Geoffrey BaskervilleWith Rumer GoddenProduced by Vivien DevlinFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 May 1992© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd