Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

2. A Quest for Liberation

Episode 2 of 2

Ann Veronica is living alone in her quest for liberation, but it's an uphill struggle. Starring Bill Nighy and Amy Hoggart.

This witty and lively tale sees Ann Veronica living alone in London in her quest for liberation.

But it's an uphill struggle; she has to fight off the sexual advances of a so called friend, discovers the love of her life is married, and gets arrested and imprisoned for a suffragette raid on the House of Commons.

The storytelling is witty and ironic and Ann Veronica caused a scandal in its time because of the feminist sensibilities of the heroine and also because of the affair Wells was having with Amber Reeves, the woman who inspired the novel's eponymous character. This is a relatively unknown and unexpected novel by Wells.

The Spectator described Ann Veronica as a "poisonous book..." Although unlikely to offend modern listeners, this novel addresses many feminist versus femininity issues that are still relevant today.

The novel deals with the early stages of what is arguably the most important social development of the 20th Century. the education and financial and sexual liberation of women. And the fact is that, nearly 100 years later, the problem of women who want to marry, have children and pursue a liberating career, is still not easy to solve.

Wells makes a good case for freer sexual relationships, but Amber Reeves - and later Rebecca West - were the ones whose lives were changed - by bearing and bringing up a child by him.

Dramatised by Ellen Dryden.

Ann Veronica …... Amy Hoggart
Mr Stanley ..…. Geoffrey Whitehead
H.G. Wells ..…. Bill Nighy
Aunt Molly …... Ruth Alexander-Rubin
Kitty Brett ..…. Verity Henry
Manning ..…. Toby Hadoke
Ramage …... Jonathan Keeble

Director: Pauline Harris

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in February 2017.

1 hour

Last on

Thu 7 Sep 2023 00:00

More episodes

Next

You are at the last episode

See all episodes from HG Wells

Credits

Role Contributor
HG Wells - The Narrator Bill Nighy
Ann Veronica Stanley Amy Hoggart
Mr Stanley Geoffrey Whitehead
Ramage Jonathan Keeble
Capes Henry Devas
Aunt Molly Ruth Alexander Rubin
Miss Garvice Ruth Alexander Rubin
Kitty Brett Verity Henry
Manning Toby Hadoke
Director Pauline Harris
Producer Pauline Harris
Author HG Wells
Adaptor Lavinia Murray

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Feb 2017 15:00
  • Sat 4 Mar 2017 21:00
  • Wed 6 Jan 2021 10:00
  • Wed 6 Jan 2021 15:00
  • Thu 7 Jan 2021 03:00
  • Wed 6 Sep 2023 05:00
  • Wed 6 Sep 2023 10:00
  • Wed 6 Sep 2023 15:00
  • Thu 7 Sep 2023 00:00