{"product_id":"book-19g6","title":"Precious Bane","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMary Webb's award-winning novel adapted for radio with a full cast, plus a dramatised biography of the celebrated author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNovelist and poet Mary Webb is as closely associated with Shropshire as Thomas Hardy with Dorset and the Brontës with Yorkshire. She wrote six books set against the timeless landscape of the county she knew and loved so well, but only achieved literary success after her death when the then Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin praised her work, describing her as a neglected genius. Her final novel, \u003ci\u003ePrecious Bane\u003c\/i\u003e, was awarded the Prix Femina Vie Heureuse, and is featured here alongside a bonus programme exploring Webb's life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePrecious Bane\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Born with a cleft lip, Pru Sarn is an outcast in her superstious rural community, who regard her as cursed and suspect her of being a witch. Yet her gentle heart longs for love and honest communication with her neighbours - in contrast with her brother Gideon's all-consuming desire for wealth. As Pru works side-by-side with him on the family farm, she becomes increasingly disturbed by his single-mindedness - and ever more attracted to the handsome weaver, Kester Woodseaves. But when Gideon's obsessive ambition results in tragedy, Prue finds herself accused of murder - and only Kester can save her… \u003cb\u003eMiriam Margolyes\u003c\/b\u003e stars as Pru, with \u003cb\u003eTerry Molloy\u003c\/b\u003e as Gideon and \u003cb\u003ePeter Davidson\u003c\/b\u003e as Kester.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Shropshire Lass\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Based on Gladys Mary Cole's biography of Mary Webb, \u003ci\u003eThe Flower of Light\u003c\/i\u003e, this dramatised profile explores how Webb lived 'betwixt and between' - half in the world and half out of it. The heroine of a fairy story with a sad ending, she yearned for fame, riches and admiration, but spent her life struggling against illness and disillusion. Narrated by \u003cb\u003eJohn Darran\u003c\/b\u003e, with \u003cb\u003eDillwyn Jones\u003c\/b\u003e as the reader, \u003cb\u003eSue Jones-Davies\u003c\/b\u003e as Mary Webb and \u003cb\u003eGareth Armstrong\u003c\/b\u003e as her husband Henry.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eCast and credits\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePrecious Bane\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePru - \u003cb\u003eMiriam Margolyes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGideon - \u003cb\u003eTerry Molloy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKester - \u003cb\u003ePeter Davidson\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMrs Sarn - \u003cb\u003ePenelope Lee\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMr Sarn - \u003cb\u003eHaydn Jones\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMrs Beguildy - \u003cb\u003eJill Meers\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWizard Beguildy - \u003cb\u003eRobert Vahey\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJancis Beguildy - \u003cb\u003eElspeth Charltok\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGideon (aged 7) - \u003cb\u003eHenry Milner\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTiwy - \u003cb\u003eCecily Hobbs\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSexton - \u003cb\u003eRoger Snowdon\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCallard - \u003cb\u003eJohn Rowe\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDorabella - \u003cb\u003ePatricia Gallimore\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSquire Camperdine - \u003cb\u003eDavid Vann\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFelena - \u003cb\u003eKathryn Hurlbutt\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSukey - \u003cb\u003eDeirdre Lee\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMoll - \u003cb\u003eHedli Niklaus\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMrs Sexton - \u003cb\u003eCarol Snape\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMrs Grimble\/Mrs Callard - \u003cb\u003eYsanne Churchman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrimble\/Grandfather Callard - \u003cb\u003eGordon Reid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHuglet -\u003cb\u003e Malcolm Gerard\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMiller's Tim - \u003cb\u003ePeter O'Dwyer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eApothecary - \u003cb\u003eStephen Hancock\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSexton's Sammy - \u003cb\u003eDavid Landberg\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDoctor - \u003cb\u003eDenys Hawthorne\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten by Mary Webb\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDramatised by Michelene Wandor\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDirected by Vanessa Whitburn\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTraditional folk music sung and played by Sue Harris, John Kirkpatrick and Ann Weller\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 April-10 May 1981\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Shropshire Lass\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNarrator - \u003cb\u003eJohn Darran\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMary Webb\/Susan Buchan - \u003cb\u003eSue Jones-Davies\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHenry Webb\/Caradoc Evans - \u003cb\u003eGareth Armstrong\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReader - \u003cb\u003eDillwyn Owen\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten by Herbert Williams\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on \u003ci\u003eThe Flower of Light\u003c\/i\u003e by Gladys Mary Coles\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProduced by Robin C. Rollinson\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 July 1986\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":67519228739888,"sku":"BD19g6","price":11.67,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/19g6-Square-cover.jpg?v=1786760369","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-19g6","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}