{"product_id":"book-hvpj","title":"The Guy de Maupassant BBC Radio Drama Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBBC Radio adaptations of selected novels and short stories by the great 19th century French writer - plus bonus programmes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGuy de Maupassant is renowned as one of the fathers of the modern short story. A protégé of Flaubert, he was celebrated for his naturalistic fiction, and wrote over 300 short stories, six novels, three travel books and one volume of verse in his short but highly productive lifetime. He died in an asylum aged just 43.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis collection brings together dramatisations of some of his finest works. Adapted by Sony Award-winning dramatist Frances Byrnes, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBel Ami \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003echronicles the corrupt rise of charming, ruthless journalist Georges Duroy (\u003cb\u003eJonathan Slinger\u003c\/b\u003e). It is followed by Maupassant's most famous short story, \u003cb\u003e'The Dumpling'\u003c\/b\u003e, a satirical tale of a group of coach travellers fleeing occupied Rouen during the Franco-Prussian war. Dramatised for the first time on radio, it stars \u003cb\u003eMiriam Margolyes. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSet in Le Havre, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePierre et Jean\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e centres around the jealousy that springs up between two brothers when a family secret is uncovered. \u003cb\u003eBenedict Sandiford\u003c\/b\u003e stars as Pierre, with \u003cb\u003eTim Treloar\u003c\/b\u003e as Jean. Maupassant's tragicomic debut novel, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUne Vie\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e,\u003c\/i\u003e starring \u003cb\u003eAimee Ffion Edwards\u003c\/b\u003e, tells the story of Jeanne, a naive convent-educated aristocrat who dreams of romance, but finds marriage and adulthood treacherous and rotten. The haunting wintry tale \u003cb\u003e'The Inn' \u003c\/b\u003eis next, in which young mountain guide Ulrich (\u003cb\u003eRobin Laing\u003c\/b\u003e) finds himself in sole charge of a remote Alpine hotel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA hidden past is also at the heart of \u003cb\u003e'Mademoiselle Pearl'\u003c\/b\u003e, a poignant love story starring \u003cb\u003eClaire Neilson\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eFrank Middlemass\u003c\/b\u003e. Alongside it is \u003cb\u003e'The Hand'\u003c\/b\u003e, the macabre supernatural tale of an English aristocrat, his gruesome trophy and his vengeful nemesis. \u003cb\u003eDenis Quilley\u003c\/b\u003e stars as Sir John Rowell.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlso featured are two bonus dramas and a documentary about the great author. \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eConfessions of a Hedonist \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eis a phantasmagorical journey through five of Maupassant's most personal stories: 'A Strange Night Out', 'Mouche', 'Laid To Rest', 'Cockcrow' and 'Le Horla'. Adapted and translated by Simon Scardifield, it stars \u003cb\u003eElliot Cowan\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eHolli Dempsey\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHow an Umbrella Changed Everything\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, written by Shirley Cooklin and based on an idea by Maupassant, tells of a childless couple whose obsessive frugality has fateful repercussions. \u003cb\u003eNigel Lambert\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eSheila Grant\u003c\/b\u003e star as Charles and Clothilde Oreille. Finally, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMeridian: Guy de Maupassant - Master of the Short Story\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e explores Maupassant's life, work and lasting legacy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst published 1880 ('The Dumpling'), 1883 (\u003ci\u003eUne Vie,\u003c\/i\u003e 'The Hand'), 1885 (\u003ci\u003eBel-Ami\u003c\/i\u003e), 1886 ('The Inn', 'Mademoiselle Pearl'\u003ci\u003e)\u003c\/i\u003e, 1887 (\u003ci\u003ePierre et Jean, \u003c\/i\u003e'Le Horla'), c1890 ('Mouche', 'A Queer Night in Paris', 'Laid to Rest', 'Cockcrow'\u003ci\u003e)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eProduction credits\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten by Guy de Maupassant\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eContents\u003c\/b\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBel Ami\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dumpling\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePierre and Jean\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUne Vie\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Inn\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMademoiselle Pearl\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Hand\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMaupassant's Confessions of a Hedonist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHow an Umbrella Changed Everything\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMeridian: Guy de Maupassant - Master of the Short Story\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49352886485296,"sku":"BDhvpj","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/444835-hvpj-Square.jpg?v=1734336211","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-hvpj","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}