{"product_id":"book-ikka","title":"H.E. Bates: A BBC Radio Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSelected Dramatisations and readings of the genre-spanning work of HE Bates\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e'A great treasure trove to dive into' \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eEntertainment Focus\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHE Bates is probably best known for his comic novel \u003ci\u003eThe Darling Buds of May\u003c\/i\u003e, which introduced the lovable Larkins to the world and sparked three hugely popular TV adaptations. In his 68 years, Bates wrote over 20 further novels, more than 300 short stories, children’s books, poems, plays and non-fiction. This collection brings together three full-cast BBC Radio dramatisations and fourteen excellent readings, rounding off with extracts from HE Bates autobiographies.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis wartime bestseller \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFair Stood the Wind for France\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e is a classic tale of danger, suspense and romance, centred around a British aircrew who ditch in Occupied France, and their attempts to survive and escape. This BBC radio dramatisation stars \u003cb\u003eRory Kinnear, Tom Goodman-Hill\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eLouise Brealey\u003c\/b\u003e. Adapted from HE Bates’ semi-autobiographical 1952 novel, \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLove for Lydia\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e charts the romance between a young reporter and a shy heiress. \u003cb\u003eTim Pigott-Smith\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eJuliet Aubrey\u003c\/b\u003e star in this moving story of first love. \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDeath of a Huntsman\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, based on Bates’ 1957 novella, is a vintage radio drama about a middle-aged businessman who finds himself strangely drawn to his ex-lover’s daughter. It stars \u003cb\u003eRoger Delgado\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003ePauline Letts\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDescribed by Graham Greene as ‘the English Chekhov’, HE Bates was much acclaimed for his short fiction. Included here are 14 of his best tales, beginning with five stories taken from his 1957 collection \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSugar for the Horse\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e. Featuring his much-loved character Uncle Silas, they include ‘The Widder’, ‘The Blue Feather’, ‘Queenie White’, ‘The Singing Pig’ and ‘Aunt Tibby’. They are read by \u003cb\u003eDavid Neal\u003c\/b\u003e, who also reads \u003cb\u003esix more bucolic tales\u003c\/b\u003e: ‘Time’, ‘Chaff in the Wind’, ‘The Maker of Coffins’, ‘The Cowslip Field’, ‘Loss of Pride’ and ‘Great Uncle Crow’. \u003cb\u003eA further three stories\u003c\/b\u003e, ‘The Primrose Place’, ‘The Small Portion’ and ‘The Sun of December’, are read by \u003cb\u003eKim Hicks, John Rowe\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eAnthony Hyde\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eContents, cast and credits\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten by HE Bates\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFair Stood the Wind for France\u003cbr\u003eCast: Rory Kinnear, Louise Brealey, Ellie Haddington, Bruce Alexander, Kenneth Collard, Tom Goodman-Hill, Kate Layden, Kenneth Collard, John Biggins, Rhys Jennings and Piers Wehner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLove for Lydia\u003cbr\u003eCast: Tim Pigott-Smith, Jordan Frieda, Juliet Aubrey, Margaret Tyzack, Angela Thorne, Philip Fox, Jamie Bamber, Robert Purdy, Don McCorkindale, Clare Corbett, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Helena Breck, Joanna David, Tom Mannion, Isabelle Joss, Tracy Wiles, Ray Lonnen, Helen Longworth, Ndidi Del Fatti, Tom Calder\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDeath of a Huntsman\u003cbr\u003eCast: Eric Anderson, John Ruddock, Hugh Manning, James Thomason, Kathleen Helme, Sheila Grant, Joan Sanderson\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSugar for the Horse:\u003cbr\u003e‘The Widder’, ‘The Blue Feather’, ‘Queenie White’, ‘The Singing Pig’ and ‘Aunt Tibby’ read by David Neal\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCountry Stories:\u003cbr\u003e‘Time’, ‘Chaff in the Wind’ and ‘The Maker of Coffins’, ‘The Cowslip Field’, ‘Great Uncle Crow’ and ‘Loss of Pride’ read by David Neal\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘The Primrose Place’ read by Kim Hicks\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘The Small Portion’ read by John Rowe\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘The Sun of December’ read by Anthony Hyde\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49350172672304,"sku":"BDikka","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/552579-ikka-Square.jpg?v=1734278749","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-ikka","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}