The Barchester Chronicles

Six BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisations

De: Anthony Trollope

Narrado por: Hattie Morahan, Blake Ritson, Iain Glen, Maggie Steed, Tim Pigott-Smith, full cast, Una Stubbs, Pippa Haywood, Pip Carter, Douglas Booth

Six lavish BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations of Anthony Trollope's much-loved novels, plus a bonus documentary about Trollope himself.

Anthony Trollope's series of witty, gently satirical stories of provincial life are set in the fictional town of Barchester and the surrounding county of Barsetshire. With a focus on the lives, loves and tribulations of the local clergy and rural gentry, the canvas is broad and colourful, with a set of iconic characters in whose lives we become intimately involved as they grow up, grow old, and fall in or out of love and friendship across the years.

The Warden - The gentle Mr Harding finds his peaceful life disrupted, when his would-be son-in-law calls into question the large income he receives as warden of Barchester alms house. Starring Tim Pigott-Smith and Maggie Steed.

Barchester Towers - The cathedral town is changing again, with the arrival of a new Bishop, his wife and his Chaplain from London throwing all Barchester into disarray. Starring Tim Pigott-Smith and Una Stubbs.

Dr Thorne - When young heir Frank Gresham expresses his desire to marry Mary, her uncle Dr Thorne realises that a secret he has concealed for so long can no longer stay secret. Starring Iain Glenn, Pippa Haywood and Douglas Booth.

Framley Parsonage - Mark Robarts, the young vicar of Framley, cannot resist the lure of celebrity beyond his own village. But his ambitious pursuits will lead him to risk his devoted wife and children, as well as his sister's happiness. Starring Pip Carter, Hattie Morahan and Kate Buffrey.

The Small House at Allington - The arrival of the handsome Adolphus Crosbie causes quite a stir at Allington. There is concern for Lily Dale in her fight against scarlet fever, and Dr Crofts is a frequent visitor to the Small House. Starring Scarlett Alice Johnson and Blake Ritson.

The Last Chronicle of Barset - Henry Grantley has fallen in love again, Lily's past returns to haunt her, and Mr Crawley must reckon with an angry butcher. Johnny traverses Europe trying to save Mr Crawley and meets an unexpected new friend. Starring Adam Kotz and Samuel Barnett.

Also included is the documentary Trollope, in which poet Michael Symmons Roberts, who dramatised several of the books in this release, sets out to visit the places that inspired Trollope's writing—interrupted at times by Trollope (voiced by Hamilton Berstock) himself.

Cast and credits:

Written by Anthony Trollope.

The Warden

Dramatised by Michael Symmons Roberts.

Directed by Susan Roberts.

Produced by Charlotte Riches.

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26th January 2014.

Barchester Towers

Dramatised by Nick Warburton.

Directed by Marion Nancarrow.

Music composed by David Tobin, Jeff Meegan and Julian Gallant.

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2nd - 16th February 2014.

Dr Thorne

Dramatised by Michael Symmons Roberts.

Directed by Susan Roberts.

Produced by Charlotte Riches.

Music composed by David Tobin, Jeff Meegan and Julian Gallant.

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4th - 18th May 2014.

Framley Parsonage

Dramatised by Nick Warburton.

Directed and produced by Marion Nancarrow.

Music composed by David Robin, Jeff Meegan and Julian Gallant.

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 31st August - 14th September 2014.

The Small House at Allington

Dramatised by Michael Symmons Roberts.

Directed by Gary Brown.

Produced by Charlotte Riches.

Music composed by David Tobin, Jeff Meegan and Julian Gallant.

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21st December 2014 - 4th January 2015.

The Last Chronicle of Barset

Dramatised by Nick Warburton.

Directed and produced by Marion Nancarrow.

Music composed by David Tobin, Jeff Meegan and Julian Gallant.

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 31st May - 21st June 2015.

Trollope

Presented by Michael Symmons Roberts.

Produced by Faith Lawrence.

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 3rd January 2014.

©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Classique

A bit tedious and repetitive but still a classic. The performance brings the story alive.

Heartwarming!

For a little over one week the highlight of my days were the hours spent listening to The Barchester Chronicles, I laughed and cried and absolutely hated for it to end (it went straight into my favorites collection as soon as it finished). Everything about this production (script, actors, background sounds, original musical score) is perfection. I can hardly wait to listen to it again!

Awkward Adaptation

They made some odd choices in the adaptations. They took a housekeeper present in the first book and had her narrate the whole series, at least so far as the third book. They then have to introduce additional dialogue to explain this as it becomes increasingly strained. The adaptation of the Warden is just too short. Barchester Towers is okay. Doctor Thorne is kind of a mess from the beginning. I haven't gotten further yet but I would suggest the audiobooks. This might be good to listen to a couple years after reading the books when you remember just enough of the original source material to make this comprehensible but not so much that you notice the flaws.

Start here…

If you’ve never read/ listened to Anthony Trollope, you can start here. A lot is made of his other novels (The way we live now) but I feel if you’re going to visit only one Trollopian space then the folks of Barsetshire will provide you with sufficient range of emotive entertainment. With this one production you get more than a glimpse, and it is still enough of a teaser.