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1. Seeds of Unrest

Episode 1 of 2

Elite intellectual Joseph Knecht feels compelled to rebel against the utopian society he once idolised. Stars Derek Jacobi.

Joseph Knecht is a rising star in the Castalian Order, a band of elite intellectuals who live a closeted life of study and Glass Bead Game playing.

But Joseph's elevation to one of the highest and most respected ranks of The Order coincides with a crisis of conscience.

His ever-deepening doubts about this idealistic and sanitised society threaten to topple its very foundations...

Hermann Hesse's classic novel set in a futuristic, utopian society - first published in 1943.

Starring Derek Jacobi and Tom Ferguson.

Dramatised in two parts by Lavinia Greenlaw

Biographer …. Derek Jacobi
Joseph Knecht …. Tom Ferguson
Young Joseph …. Aidan Parsons
Music Master …. Malcolm Raeburn
Teacher/Van Der Trave …. Terence Mann
Plinio …. David Seddon
Fritz …. Toby Hadoke
Father Jacobus …. David Fleeshman
Bertram …. Jonathan Keeble

String Player: Kevin Flynn

Producer: Charlotte Riches

Director: Susan Roberts

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2010.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 21 Apr 202400:00
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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2. Growing Doubts

See all episodes from Hermann Hesse - The Glass Bead Game

Broadcasts

  • Sun 18 Jul 201015:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sat 24 Jul 201021:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 3 Nov 201318:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 4 Nov 201300:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 2 Oct 201410:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 2 Oct 201415:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Fri 3 Oct 201403:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sat 20 Apr 202416:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 21 Apr 202400:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra