China Towns: Based on the Five Towns Novels
BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisations
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China Towns: Based on the Five Towns Novels
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Narrated by:
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Kate O'Flynn
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Neil Dudgeon
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Tim McInnerny
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Don Gilet
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Rebekah Staton
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full cast
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By:
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Arnold Bennett
About this listen
Neil Dudgeon and Tim McInnerny star in this epic tale of money, passion and defiance, inspired by the 'Five Towns' novels of Arnold Bennett
In this radical reinterpretation of Arnold Bennett's classic novels set in the Staffordshire potteries, it's the 19th Century and the Industrial Revolution is at full throttle. Only the ruthless thrive in this uncompromising world - and Ephraim Tellwright and Darius Clayhanger are both determined to succeed.
From humble beginnings, these two self-made men have risen to become wealthy and powerful. Now, they hold the fate of the Five Towns in their hands, passing judgement on those who put the prosperity and reputation of their community at risk...
Over 10 hours and almost 40 years, we follow them, their descendants, and the inhabitants of Bursley and the Five Towns, as individuals rise, fall, flourish, age, and see the world around them become unrecognisable, transformed by new technology. Fortunes are lost, hearts broken, empires built and compromises made.
These tales of aspiration and passion, damage and danger are told with Bennett's forensic eye for human psychology and a surprising degree of witty comedy, and feature a star cast including Emma Cunniffe, Kate O'Flynn, Don Gilet and Rebekah Staton.
©2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2019 BBC Studios Distribution LtdListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about China Towns: Based on the Five Towns Novels
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- thunderburst
- 02-10-20
Perfect
This is an absolutely perfect dramatisation. Neil Dudgeon leads an outstanding cast in this tragic tale of missed opportunities. But there is humour too. Heard this first on radio 4. Enjoyed it even more on my second listen. An episode a night on my evening walk during COVID.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Preston
- 11-01-20
Excellent audiobook
this is a strong story well acted and an excellent listen its just the thing to settle down to on a cold winters night
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 25-03-20
Totally Absorbing
Loved it. A great reworking of Bennett's characters and books. I now want to catch ip with his books that I've not yet read.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shelagh A Brownlow
- 16-05-21
A wonderful story.
I loved this interpretation of Arnold Bennett's stories.I couldn't stop listening.The actors were so believable I could smell the smoke.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Mr. A. Kaye
- 22-01-24
poor quality sound.
I can't review if I cannot hear words. why silly background music all the time.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Arthur Mennym
- 05-11-20
Strange brew but still tasty....
This is a reinterpretation of Bennett's work and some of the changes are odd, completely reimagining some characters, conflating others. If you have read the books this can be quite jarring and sometimes this messes with the authors original intentions. Still as a radio drama on its own terms its good, but head scratching at times....
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1 person found this helpful