East Lynne

A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation

By: Mrs Henry Wood, Henry Bakewell - dramatist

Narrated by: David Collings, full cast, Moir Leslie, Rosemary Leach

Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

A seven-part BBC radio dramatisation of Mrs Henry Wood’s sensational Victorian best seller, suffused with infidelity and double identities.

Lord Mount Severn's country seat, East Lynne, is magnificent - but its owner is penniless and when the noble lord dies suddenly, his daughter is left destitute. To avoid misery and humiliation, Lady Isabel accepts a proposal of marriage from Mr Carlyle, the new owner of the estate. However, she soon finds herself battling with two strong emotions: her jealousy of her husband’s friend Barbara Hare, and her attraction to the handsome Captain Levison.

Suspecting Carlyle of infidelity, she takes drastic action and leaves her husband and children to run away with Levison – only to realise he has no intention of marrying her. No sooner has Lady Isabel been betrayed by her wicked suitor than she is left unrecognisably disfigured by a terrible train crash. With her life in ruins, she adopts a new name and heads back to the place she once called home – East Lynne.... 

Adapted by Michael Bakewell, this much-loved melodrama stars Rosemary Leach as Mrs Henry Wood, Moir Leslie as Lady Isabel, David Collings as Mr Carlyle and Anthony Edridge as Francis Levison.

Written by Mrs Henry Wood.

Dramatised by Michael Bakewell.

Directed by Richard Johnson.

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14 June-26 July 1987.

©1987 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Maudlin, but superbly acted!

Everyone was great but this Victorian story with its preaching, is a bit out of date. I loved listening to the adorable boy, Ben Robb, who played William. I could have listened to him for hours. He also had the brightest and most honest lines in the play.

excellent

loved it. got lost on the.story as if I were there. Spent the whole day listening and I was happy that I did. Great story and performance.

loved it

First read East Lynne 40 yes ago it is a 1860s ''crime passionel' read it and enjoy

OK but dated

OK but dated, story is fine, but performance is a bit annoying, especially the children who sound amateur.

The Victorian novel of all Victorian novels

This powerful, sensitive adaptation of a truly extraordinarily Victorian novel is one of the best BBC radio dramas ever made. A fine cast and intelligent, sympathetic direction allow the dark themes, well handled plot and unrepentantly strong moral tone of ‘East Lynne’ to speak clearly to us today. It’s wonderful to have a novel like this allowed to be played in a straight, sincere way in a modern adaptation; the results are astonishing. Absorbing, addictive, agonisingly heartbreaking: this is a must-listen production of a truly brilliant, brutal and beautiful novel.

A Classic Production Well Acted

This is one of my favourite plays beautifully brought to life and well acted by an excellent cast. The battle ax of a sister is so well played by the actress who plays her, with her forthright bullying, you want to bring her down. All the characters have a life of their own and this is a great production I enjoy listening to anytime.