RANDOM JOTTINGS

A blog about music, sports, theatre and rants

Long time blogger just moved to wordpress. Love music, theatre, movies, sport (tennis and cricket) and cooking. Two great daughters, two great granddaughters.

Making of a Marchioness on air

I need very little excuse to blather on about Frances Hodgson Burnett and, in particular, The Making of a Marchioness and now, to my utter delight, I noticed that it is being broadcast on BBC Radio 4.  Charles Dance is Walderhurst, perfect casting with that superb voice of his, and the first episode is on the Sunday before Easter (April 1st) and then on Easter Sunday itself (April 8th) from 3-4 pm.

I have Deluzy to thank for sending me the link so that anyone outside the UK who wishes to listen via the internet can do so.  I was about to emabark on the tortuous process of tracking it down which would, no doubt, have taken me hours and lo and behold, she sent it to me.  THANK YOU.  And here it is:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/openbook/openbook_20070325.shtml

Burnettf172217226172268_3The Marchioness was originally published in two volumes and here is volume one pictured on the left.  I think this is a simply gorgeous cover.  My old copy of The Shuttle (now sitting next to my lovely new Persephone copy) is in the same style as this one with a very well preserved picture in the middle.  This is not painted on the book jacket, it is actually an old style sticker so it is amazing that mine is in such good condition.

(I have just pulled down my copy of The Shuttle to double check the cover and do you know, the publishers have used exactly the same picture of the same lady in the same large picture hat for that that one as well as this!)

Happy listening and then of course, if you do not already have a copy of this wonderful book, then it will not take you five minutes to log onto Persephone and order one. This is a truly lovely book and though, on the surface it is a Cinderella type story and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, Frances Hodgson Burnett was making it quite clear to the reader that women were on the marriage market and if they did not get a husband, they were failures and doomed to a poverty stricken and miserable old age.  Because Emily Fox-Seton is so nice, we are delighted she has a happy ending but for many others this did not happen.

Posted in

7 responses to “Making of a Marchioness on air”

  1. Elaine Simpson-Long Avatar
    Elaine Simpson-Long

    Yes Jill I, too, have that edition and the second volume The Methods of Lady Walderhurst is in the same style. I am not quite sure where the one with Emily Fox-Seton on the front came from, it must be a later edition. I do not have this particular one, I just came across a picture of it and thought it was so nice put it in this post.
    Lovely to see that the posts about FHB are bringing lots of comments. Her adult books are just so good and there are plenty of non-ex=ensive copies around on Alibris and Abe books and similar sites.

    Reply
  2. Jill Avatar
    Jill

    My copy of The Making of a Marchioness is a lovely lavender with the picture on the front in black and white rather than in color. Of course, I’m missing the second volume; hence my need to read the rest of the story in the Persephone edition.

    Reply
  3. Elaine Simpson-Long Avatar
    Elaine Simpson-Long

    Tara – my copy of The Shuttle has the following inscription inside:
    “To Miss Coulson with compliment of Emma Dickson – Commencement April 29,1910”
    For me that just makes the book even more precious, to know that it was a present and a gift and I do hope that Miss Coulson loved it

    Reply
  4. tara Avatar
    tara

    My copy of The Shuttle is green and has a horizontal sticker with this same lovely lady facing a gentleman whose back is to the reader. There is a full page picture inside. The publication date is 1907. It IS amazing that these cover stickers have survivied. I realized yesterday my copy contains a newspaper clipping of a poem and I suspect someone was using this as a bookmark. I’ve been trying to date it based on the text on the back, and I’m thinking arond 1913 or 1914.

    Reply
  5. Elaine Simpson-Long Avatar
    Elaine Simpson-Long

    Sorry Equiano
    tee hee………..
    but do blog about it I am sure you have lots of visitors who do not visit Random Jottings and the more the merrier say I

    Reply
  6. Equiano Avatar
    Equiano

    Darn, you beat me to it! I just saw this in Persephone’s latest email announcement and intend to blog about it because, like you, I think this book is just fabulous! Can’t wait to hear it.

    Reply
  7. Deluzy Avatar
    Deluzy

    Ah, but I have you to thank for turning me on to FHB’s books for adults in the first place!
    The BBC apparently makes the Open Book broadcasts available for 7 days after they originally air, so folks who don’t have regular access to the BBC through conventional means should make sure to stream the programs within seven days of the dates you list.
    I’m just glad there’s a way for me to hear them!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to taraCancel reply

Discover more from RANDOM JOTTINGS

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading