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Jeanette Winterson

Novelist Jeanette Winterson reads a letter from a mother to her daughter, inspired by Oscar Wilde's De Profundis.

Writers from around the world read letters on the theme of imprisonment, inspired by Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis.

Novelist Jeanette Winterson takes Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale as the raw materials of her writing. The letter is addressed to Perdita, born in prison where her father has sent her mother because he wrongly believes she has been unfaithful to him.

Oscar Wilde was incarcerated in Reading Prison between 1895 and 1897, enduring the Separate System, a harsh penal regime designed to eliminate any contact between prisoners. Wilde’s imprisonment led to one of his last great works - De Profundis, an extended letter to his lover Lord Alfred Douglas written by Wilde in his prison cell.

Produced by Barney Rowntree and Jeremy Mortimer
Executive Producer: Joby Waldman

A Reduced Listening production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

14 minutes

Last on

Fri 20 Sep 2019 19:45
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Credits

Author Jeanette Winterson
Reader Jeanette Winterson
Producer Jeremy Mortimer

Broadcasts

  • Fri 16 Sep 2016 19:45
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 20 Sep 2019 19:45
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

De Profundis: Oscar Wilde's Letter from Inside

De Profundis: Oscar Wilde's Letter from Inside

Stephen Rea reads from Wilde's famous letter in the prison cell where it was written.