1. The Palace

Within the Palace walls, a series of disturbing crimes throws the court into confusion and unrest.

Shonagon's brilliance and wit is called upon for more than her Empress's amusement.

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
Narimasa..................................John Rowe
Empress...................................Laura Rees
Tadanobu.........Benedict Cumberbatch
Saisho................................Caroline Martin
Emperor.........................Richard Madden
Yukinari.................................Mark Bazeley

Producer: Lu Kemp

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2008.