G. K. Chesterton: Three BBC Radio Mysteries

Synopsis

Three BBC Radio performances of works by the great G. K. ChestertonBest known as the creator of clerical detective Father Brown, G. K. Chesterton was a prolific and talented writer in virtually every area of literature: from novels, poetry and short stories to plays, biographies and essays. A noted thinker, controversialist, raconteur and wit, he has influenced authors from Neil Gaiman to Jorge Luis Borges. This collection comprises his two most famous novels, The Man Who Was Thursday and The Napoleon of Notting Hill, as well as half a dozen tales from his short story collection, The Club of Queer Trades.The Man Who Was Thursday - Poet turned Scotland Yard detective Gabriel Syme goes undercover in Edwardian London to investigate a secret society of anarchists - all of whom are named after days of the week... Read by Geoffrey Palmer.The Club of Queer Trades - In these six full-cast comedy crime dramas, retired KC Basil Grant, his brother Rupert and friend Charlie Swinburne explore the extraordinary stories of people who earn their living by some novel and unusual means. Starring David Warner as Basil, Martin Freeman as Rupert and Geoffrey McGivern as Charlie.The Napoleon of Notting Hill- Written in 1904, Chesterton's comic political satire is set in London 80 years on. The city is still full of horse-buses and hansom cabs, but democracy is dead, and the King is chosen by lottery. No one cares, because none of it matters - until the choice falls on Auberon Quin... This full-cast drama stars Roger Hammond as G. K. Chesterton and David Collings as Auberon Quin, with Kim Wall, Stuart Organ and Paul McGann.First published 1904 (The Napoleon of Notting Hill), 1905 (The Club of Queer Trades), 1908 (The Man Who Was Thursday)The Man Who Was ThursdayRead by Geoffrey PalmerDirected by Lawrence JacksonFirst broadcast BBC Radio 7, 10-28 March 2005The Club of Queer TradesBasil Grant - David WarnerRupert Grant - Martin FreemanCharlie Swinburne - Geoffrey McGivernMajor Brown/Lord Beaumont - Geoffrey WhiteheadLady - Vicki PepperdinePG Northover/Gardener/Old Man/Constable/Dr Colman - Martin HyderDrummond - Nicholas FarrellWimpole/Burrows - Justin EdwardsSir Walter Chumley/Rev Shorter - Richard GriffithsMuriel - Alice LoweJames - Alexei SayleMowbray - Nell EdmondBrett - Matthew HolnessLieutenant Keith - Jeff HardingMontmorency - Simon JonesChristina - Amelia BullmoreBingham - Chris DouglasAdeleide - Felicity MontaguProf Chadd - John NettletonGreenwood - James RawlingsOld Lady - Angela ThorneDramatised by Simon LittlefieldProduced by Simon NichollsFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4 April-9 May 2005The Napoleon of Notting HillG. K. Chesterton - Roger HammondAuberon Quin - David CollingsWilfred Lambert - Kim WallJames Barker - Stephen HattersleyPresident del Fuego - Manning WilsonPoliceman/Mr Wilson - Stuart OrganBoy Adam Wayne - Alexander GoodmanAdam Wayne - Paul McGannMr Buck - Aubrey WoodsMr Mead - Paul GregoryMr Bowles - Brian HewlettMr Turnbull - Gordon ReidDramatised by Peter BuckmanProduced by Eric StovellDirected by Richard ImisonFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 22 December 1986© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd(p) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd