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

Three Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations

By: Rumer Godden

Narrated by: Indira Varma, Sinead Cusack, Lesley Sharp, David Rintoul, Ronny Jhutti, Ellie Beaven, Michael Maloney, Abigail Docherty, Nickolas Grace, Geoffrey Whitehead, full cast, Dearbhla Molloy

Length: 4 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Full-cast radio adaptations of three of Rumer Godden's bestselling novels, plus a bonus interview with the author

Rumer 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 Narcissus

Sister Clodagh - Sinead Cusack

Sister Ruth - Lesley Sharp

Mr Dean - David Rintoul

Dilip Rai - Ronny Jhutti

Sister Briony - Susan Engel

Sister Philippa - Jenny Lee

Sister Honey - Rachel Atkins

The General/Father Roberts - Sam Dastor

Ayah - Indira Joshi

Mother Dorothea/Sister Adela - Carolyn Jones

Con - Alastair Danson

Kanchi - Sumitra Bhagat

Joseph Anthony - Dhiraj Prasai

Dramatised by April de Angelis

Music by Elizabeth Parker

Directed by Sally Avens

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 December 1997

The Greengage Summer

Cecile - Ellie Beaven

Joss - Abigail Docherty

Hester - Ciara Janson

Eliot - Michael Maloney

With Luke Newbury, Claire Marchionne, Rachel Atkins, Theo Fraser Steele, Sean Baker, Jenny Lee, Brian Parr and Chris Wright

Dramatised by Dawn Lowe Watson

Directed by Sally Avens

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 May 1988

The Dark Horse

Sister Morag - Dearbhla Molloy

Levantine - Nickolas Grace

Ted - Ioan Meredith

John Quillan - Gareth Armstrong

With Geoffrey Whitehead, Indira Varma, Siobhan Stamp, Frances Jeater, Nitin Chandra Ganatra, Richard Rees and David Antrobus

Dramatised by Liane Aukin

Directed by David Hunter

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 September 1988

Third Ear

Presented by Geoffrey Baskerville

With Rumer Godden

Produced by Vivien Devlin

First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 12 May 1992

©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Loved It!

Rumer Godden has been one of my favorite authors for over thirty years and this collection of BBC radio dramatizations of three of her best loved books did not disappoint, my only regret is that it did not include adaptations of more of her books.