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3: The Isla of Jura

Hoping to return the rare copy of 1984, Bethany arrives at the remote Isle of Jura, where her hosts turn out to be unexpectedly intriguing...

A sparkling new literary whodunnit for Radio 4 from the acclaimed author William Boyd, set on the Isle of Jura.

When Orwell obsessive Bethany Mellmoth finds herself in possession of a rare copy of 1984, so begins a literary trail that will take her to the remote Scottish island where the book was written. On Jura Bethany, in the seemingly genteel company of an antiquarian bookseller, she takes on the role of amateur sleuth, as she uncovers skulduggery and scams, and even threats to her own life...

Today: Bethany finally arrives on the remote Isle of Jura, hoping to combine a literary pilgrimage with the return of the book. But doesn't expect to find such intriguing hosts...

Writer: William Boyd, is one of the UK's most acclaimed writers. He is the author of 17 novels, including A Good Man in Africa, winner of the Whitbread Literary Award and the Somerset Maugham Award; An Ice Cream War, winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and shortlisted for the Booker prize; Any Human Heart, winner of the Prix Jean Monnet; and Restless, winner of the Costa Novel of the Year.
Reader: Ruth Everett
Producer: Justine Willett

Release date:

14 minutes

On radio

Wed 5 Mar 2025 22:45

Broadcast

  • Wed 5 Mar 2025 22:45