2. Thefts

In the snow-covered Palace, the thefts are moving in a slow spiral towards the inner chambers of the Emperor, the Sun God, himself.

Robert Forrest's thriller and love story, inspired by the diary of Sei Shonagon, a court lady to the Empress Sadako in 10th century Japan.

Shonagon........................Ruth Gemmell
Yukinari..............................Mark Bazeley
Saisho..............................Caroline Martin
Emperor.........................Richard Madden
Empress.................................Laura Rees
Tozammi...........................Colette O'Neil
Tadanobu..........Benedict Cumberbatch

Producer: Lu Kemp

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2008.