麻豆约拍

In the first of three short stories recorded in front of an audience at the Bath Literature Festival, Marina Warner reads The Mermaid.

Marina Warner is a writer of fiction, criticism and history; her works include novels and short stories as well as studies of myths, symbols, and fairytales.

A niece rolls up to her Aunt's place in a flash car. It had been turned over by its previous coke-head owner, but the re-conditioning is superb. Over a lunch of samphire and crabmeat she complains about the affects of ageing, mobile phone reception and the inability of boyfriends to keep their promises. She thought Gianni was different from the others, but it turns out she escaped from his clutches just in time. Her Aunt is well used to her niece's capricious behaviour; she is, after all, every inch her mother's daughter. Revived by food and rest, the niece speeds off into the blue yonder and the Aunt finds she has an awakening of her own.

Producer: Sarah Langan.