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Rappaccini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Student Giovanni becomes obsessed with a mysterious girl living next door. Dark sci-fi romance starring Joseph Cohen-Cole.

Giovanni is a student who moves into a new room overlooking a strange garden full of lush and outlandish plants.

The garden belongs to Dr Rappaccini, a renowned scientist and expert in poisons.

But from the moment Giovanni sees Beatrice, the doctor's daughter, in the garden, his interest becomes a dangerous obsession.

Dark sci-fi romance, written in 1844 by acclaimed American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Starring Peter Marinker and Joseph Cohen Cole.

A tale of mystery, a love story, and a haunting allegory. It's fascinating early science fiction, but its world of cold scientists and sinister experiments connects directly with our own fears about Frankenscience and biological weaponry.

It's also an eerie and dreamlike fable - the mesmerising poisoned garden into which Beatrice entices Giovanni has echoes of the Garden of Eden. Powerful archetypes and questions of sin and the ambiguous power of knowledge ripple beneath its surface.

Dramatised by Martyn Wade.

Hawthorne ....... Peter Marinker
Giovanni ....... Joseph Cohen Cole
Baglioni ....... David Hargreaves
Rappaccini ....... John Rowe
Beatrice ....... Emerald O'Hanrahan
Lisabetta ....... Kate Layden

Director: Abigail le Fleming

Made for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 7 and first broadcast in February 2010.

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 17 Dec 2023 16:00

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 Feb 2010 18:00
  • Mon 22 Feb 2010 00:00
  • Sat 25 Sep 2010 18:00
  • Sun 26 Sep 2010 00:00
  • Sat 23 Apr 2011 18:30
  • Sun 24 Apr 2011 00:30
  • Sat 17 Mar 2012 18:00
  • Sun 18 Mar 2012 00:00
  • Sun 30 Dec 2012 18:30
  • Mon 31 Dec 2012 00:30
  • Fri 26 Jul 2013 18:30
  • Sat 27 Jul 2013 00:30
  • Sun 16 Feb 2014 00:00
  • Sun 25 Jan 2015 18:00
  • Mon 26 Jan 2015 00:00
  • Sun 17 Dec 2023 00:00
  • Sun 17 Dec 2023 16:00