Fortunes of War: A BBC Radio 4 Full cast dramatisation of the complete Balkan Trilogy

A sweeping adaptation of Olivia Manning's classic war novels, starring Joanna Lumley and Honeysuckle Weeks

'A rare and many-layered pleasure' Gillian Reynolds, The Telegraph

1939, and naive young newlywed Harriet Pringle arrives in Bucharest with her husband, Guy - just as Europe is about to rip itself apart. She believes she knows everything about the man she has married, but soon realises she knows nothing.

Guy is oblivious to her needs and desires, seeming only to care about his job as a university lecturer, his friends, and the beautiful, voluptuous Sophie. Struggling to build a life in a strange city, in the face of imminent invasion, Harriet feels bereft - and increasingly isolated.

As the Nazis come ever closer, an act of treachery puts the couple in terrible danger, and with Romania in enemy hands, they are forced to leave the country. Fleeing to Athens, and then Egypt, their marriage comes under increasing strain amidst the chaos and upheaval of war. With the future uncertain, can they find the strength and resilience to face it together?

Joanna Lumley stars as the older Harriet, looking back on events many years later, with Honeysuckle Weeks as her younger self. Among the stellar cast are Khalid Abdalla, Alex Wyndham and James Fleet.

Production credits Written by Olivia Manning Dramatised by Lin Coghlan and Jonathan Holloway Produced and directed by Marc Beeby and Colin Guthrie

Cast Old Harriet - Joanna Lumley Harriet - Honeysuckle Weeks Guy - Khalid Abdalla Clarence - Alex Wyndham Yakimov - James Fleet Inchcape - John Rowe Sophie/Edwina - Joannah Tincey Galpin/Clifford/Newsreader - John Dougall Bella/Mona - Carolyn Pickles Drucker/Desmond - Peter Marinker Sasha - Joseph Arkley Nikko/Toby Lush/Peter - Simon Treves Despina/Phillips - Laura Molyneux Dr Hassolel/Mortimer - Katy Cavanagh Manager/Jackman - Ben Onwukwe Dobson - Sam Dale Dubedat/Aidan/Cpt Hardy - Ben Crowe Professor Pinkrose - Nigel Anthony Charles Warden/Mr Buschman - Alex Lanipekun Angela - Alison Pettitt Bill - Philip Jackson Simon - Sam Pamphilon Arnold/Young Arab - Lloyd Thomas Dr Shafik/Helal - Bijan Daneshmand Marion - Emily Wachter

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 January-2 March 2008

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

© 2022 BBC Digital Audio (Lydbog): 9781529142488

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Lydbog: 10. marts 2022